Incorporating TechQuity in Virtual Care Within the Veterans Health Administration: Identifying Future Research and Operations Priorities.

dc.contributor.author

Walsh, Conor

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Sullivan, Caitlin

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Bosworth, Hayden B

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Wilson, Sarah

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Gierisch, Jennifer M

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Goodwin, Kaitlyn B

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Mccant, Felicia

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Hoenig, Helen

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Heyworth, Leonie

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Zulman, Donna M

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Turvey, Carolyn

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Moy, Ernest

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Lewinski, Allison A

dc.date.accessioned

2023-11-07T15:04:54Z

dc.date.available

2023-11-07T15:04:54Z

dc.date.issued

2023-07

dc.date.updated

2023-11-07T15:04:53Z

dc.description.abstract

Background

The Covid-19 pandemic dramatically changed healthcare delivery, driving rapid expansion of synchronous (i.e., real-time) audio-only and video telehealth, otherwise known as virtual care. Yet evidence describes significant inequities in virtual care utilization, with certain populations more dependent on audio-only virtual care than video-based care. Research is needed to inform virtual care policies and processes to counteract current inequities in access and health outcomes.

Objective

Given the importance of incorporating equity into virtual care within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), we convened a Think Tank to identify priorities for future research and virtual care operations focused on achieving equitable implementation of virtual care within the VHA.

Methods

We used participatory activities to engage clinicians, researchers, and operational partners from across the VHA to develop priorities for equitable implementation of virtual care. We refined priorities through group discussion and force-ranked prioritization and outlined next steps for selected priorities.

Key results

Think Tank participants included 43 individuals from the VHA who represented diverse geographical regions, offices, and backgrounds. Attendees self-identified their associations primarily as operations (n = 9), research (n = 28), or both (n = 6). We identified an initial list of 63 potential priorities for future research and virtual care operations. Following discussion, we narrowed the list to four priority areas: (1) measure inequities in virtual care, (2) address emerging inequities in virtual care, (3) deploy virtual care equitably to accommodate differently abled veterans, and (4) measure and address potential adverse consequences of expanded virtual care. We discuss related information, data, key partners, and outline potential next steps.

Conclusions

This Think Tank of research and operational partners from across the VHA identified promising opportunities to incorporate equity into the design and implementation of virtual care. Although much work remains, the priorities identified represent important steps toward achieving this vital goal.
dc.identifier

10.1007/s11606-023-08029-2

dc.identifier.issn

0884-8734

dc.identifier.issn

1525-1497

dc.identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10161/29347

dc.language

eng

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Springer Science and Business Media LLC

dc.relation.ispartof

Journal of general internal medicine

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10.1007/s11606-023-08029-2

dc.subject

Humans

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United States Department of Veterans Affairs

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Delivery of Health Care

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United States

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Veterans Health

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Pandemics

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COVID-19

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Incorporating TechQuity in Virtual Care Within the Veterans Health Administration: Identifying Future Research and Operations Priorities.

dc.type

Journal article

duke.contributor.orcid

Walsh, Conor|0000-0003-3895-6828

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Bosworth, Hayden B|0000-0001-6188-9825

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Wilson, Sarah|0000-0002-1028-6028

duke.contributor.orcid

Hoenig, Helen|0000-0002-6682-2627

duke.contributor.orcid

Lewinski, Allison A|0000-0002-1356-1857

pubs.begin-page

2130

pubs.end-page

2138

pubs.issue

9

pubs.organisational-group

Duke

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School of Medicine

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School of Nursing

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Basic Science Departments

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Clinical Science Departments

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Institutes and Centers

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Medicine

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Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences

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Medicine, General Internal Medicine

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Medicine, Geriatrics

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Duke Cancer Institute

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Duke Clinical Research Institute

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Institutes and Provost's Academic Units

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Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development

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Initiatives

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Duke Science & Society

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Population Health Sciences

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Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship

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Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Behavioral Medicine & Neurosciences

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Duke - Margolis Center For Health Policy

pubs.publication-status

Published

pubs.volume

38

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