COVID Exposes “Healthcare Gap”

And just like that, telehealth is a technology superstar. Recognition of telehealth’s potential to transform healthcare is one of the few silver linings in the COVID-19 cloud. But COVID-19 also ripped open a gaping wound within our healthcare system – a deadly inequity for African-American and other people of color. “Systemic racism and bad policy over the years created situations where African-Americans and other people of color are more susceptible to hypertension, diabetes, and the like,” said Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny on CNN. “We need solutions that treat everybody equitably when it comes to access to healthcare.” Black and Brown people don’t want to hear “We have to research the problem.” We know why, for instance, African Americans can have 32% of Louisiana's population but have more than 70% of the COVID-19-related deaths. It’s poor health and poor access to healthcare. Telehealth can narrow the heathcare gap. But does the U.S. have the political will to make change happen?

[Craig Settles assists cities and co-ops with business planning for broadband and telehealth]