Bridging the digital-divide in e-health applications: leading the way to an informed patient
by Arkalgud Ramaprasad, Shobhna Gupta, Sridhar R. Papagari Sangareddy, Amit Prakash, Ramachandran Venkatasubramanian
International Journal of Healthcare Technology and Management (IJHTM), Vol. 8, No. 1/2, 2007

Abstract: E-health applications can create informed patients by helping them obtain information, learn interactively, manage their transactions, and monitor their progress. We study the availability, accessibility and stage of e-health applications in all 44 hospitals in Chicago. The study revealed significant variations in both the number and the type of e-health applications provided by these hospitals. The data was also integrated with demographic information at the ZIP code level. The results were mapped and visualized using Geographic Information System (GIS) software. The mapping of the data on these applications, the location of the hospitals' patients, and the corresponding demographics revealed a digital divide based on geography, race, income and education. It is recommended that hospitals, government and community organizations have to bridge this digital-divide by implementing more effective e-health applications, teaching patients to use them, and providing incentives to providers and patients.

Online publication date: Sun, 21-Jan-2007

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