Cheat Sheet
Digital inequity
March 29, 2021
Key Takeaways
- Digital inequity, also known as the digital divide, refers to the economic, educational, and sociocultural disparities that arise from inadequate access to and utilization of technology.
- Lack of access to technology is a social determinant of health.
- Telehealth’s rapid scaling during Covid-19 has exacerbated access disparities, making the digital divide even more pronounced among vulnerable populations.
- Providers’ new investments in technology and telehealth will worsen these inequities if there is no action, harming the patient populations who could benefit from them the most.