Ensuring Equitable Implementation of Telemedicine in Perinatal Care
Erinma P. Ukoha, Kelly Davis, Meredith Yinger, Blythe Butler, Tamia Ross, Joia Crear-Perry, Misa Perron-Burdick, Malini A. Nijagal
Abstract
The use of telemedicine in U.S. perinatal care has drastically increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and will likely continue given the national focus on high-value, patient-centered care. If implemented in an equitable manner, telemedicine has the potential to reduce disparities in care access and related outcomes that stem from systemic racism, implicit biases and other forms of discrimination within our health care system. In this commentary, we address implementation factors that should be considered to ensure that disparities are not widened as telemedicine becomes more integrated into care delivery.