How telehealth is boosting care access among NYC’s homeless population

Though telehealth has the potential to significantly expand healthcare access, social determinants of health (SDOH) challenges like housing insecurity can hinder this access, depriving already vulnerable populations of much-needed healthcare services. However, initiatives supported by healthcare provider organizations and state agencies can help overcome this barrier, enabling those facing housing insecurity to access healthcare through telehealth. In the fall of 2020, NYC Health + Hospitals and the New York City Department of Social Services launched an effort to provide homeless shelter residents access to the health system’s Virtual ExpressCare service. The initiative has grown steadily since then, with more than 5,000 shelter residents using the Virtual ExpressCare platform from January 2023 to April 2024. Through telephones, tablets, and computers in homeless shelters, the Virtual ExpressCare service provides 24-hour access to healthcare for non-emergency physical, mental, and behavioral health conditions throughout the year.