IBC Foundation's Institute of Health Equity tackle the digital divide in healthcare

A few years ago, IBC Foundation approached Health Centers about working together in new and different ways, still offering and providing support in a more intentional way.

- Lorraine Lavender-Sams

With technological innovations evolving, the goal is to provide individuals with healthcare resources that not all populations are able to access. Rural areas and socially disadvantaged populations have the least access to adequate medical care and assistance.

Intending to better understand the relationship between digital health technology and access to care. The Institute of Health Equity launched by Independence Blue Cross Foundation, commissioned research to understand the complexities of the usage of digital health services and its relationship to underserved populations within the Pennsylvania region.

On Wednesday, April 12th, at Independence Blue Cross, the Institute along with their Health Center partners, hosted a discussion breaking down Equity in Digital Health Access and presenting findings from the Institute's regional survey on underserved communities with the Public Good Project.

In 2022 IBC Foundation partnered with The Public Good Projects (PCP) on a formative evaluation related to digital health services (DHS). The informative research was guided by the following objectives:

• Define the different types of DHS.

• Define the digital divide and barriers to using DHS among patients and providers on the individual and provider levels.

• Understand the environments in which DHS has been successfully implemented--in the past.

• Identify how to overcome specific barriers to DHS uptake and utilization for patients, providers, and DHS developers.