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The effects of telemedicine on racial and ethnic disparities in access to acute stroke care.

Authors :
Lyerly MJ
Wu TC
Mullen MT
Albright KC
Wolff C
Boehme AK
Branas CC
Grotta JC
Savitz SI
Carr BG
Source :
Journal of telemedicine and telecare [J Telemed Telecare] 2016 Mar; Vol. 22 (2), pp. 114-20. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Jun 26.
Publication Year :
2016

Abstract

Racial and ethnic disparities have been previously reported in acute stroke care. We sought to determine the effect of telemedicine (TM) on access to acute stroke care for racial and ethnic minorities in the state of Texas. Data were collected from the US Census Bureau, The Joint Commission and the American Hospital Association. Access for racial and ethnic minorities was determined by summing the population that could reach a primary stroke centre (PSC) or telemedicine spoke within specified time intervals using validated models. TM extended access to stroke expertise by 1.5 million residents. The odds of providing 60-minute access via TM were similar in Blacks and Whites (prevalence odds ratios (POR) 1.000, 95% CI 1.000-1.000), even after adjustment for urbanization (POR 1.000, 95% CI 1.000-1.001). The odds of providing access via TM were also similar for Hispanics and non-Hispanics (POR 1.000, 95% CI 1.000-1.000), even after adjustment for urbanization (POR 1.000, 95% CI 1.000-1.000). We found that telemedicine increased access to acute stroke care for 1.5 million Texans. While racial and ethnic disparities exist in other components of stroke care, we did not find evidence of disparities in access to the acute stroke expertise afforded by telemedicine.<br /> (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1758-1109
Volume :
22
Issue :
2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Journal of telemedicine and telecare
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
26116854
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X15589534