Making the Connection Between Healthcare and Technology
In addition to challenges around access to technology, we’ve seen a high rate of mental health issues during the pandemic, especially among children. As children become less socially engaged with their peers through activities such as school, sports and hobbies, mental health effects start to emerge. We’re seeing similar issues with older populations as well, and the situation is exacerbated by the challenges many people have in getting access to the services they need though technology.
As the implications of these issues become clearer, the technology industry and those of us in healthcare IT should be responsible for solving them. Children who are experiencing mental health issues due to the pandemic should be able to get help, but they can’t if they don’t have access to the technologies that can deliver it. Technology companies should work with healthcare organizations to provide subsidized access to tools that enable access to care.
Some programs are already in place, but in most cases, they’re small and not widely known, and the equipment they provide can be substandard. We must do better.