A system-wide approach to digital equity: the Digital Access Coordinator program in primary care.

Abstract

Introduction: The transition to digital tools prompted by the pandemic made evident digital disparities. To address digital literacy gaps, we implemented a system-wide digital navigation program.

Methods: The Digital Access Coordinator (DAC) program consists of 12 multilingual navigators who support patients in enrolling and using the patient portal and digital tools. We implemented the program in our primary care network which consists of 1.25 million patients across 1211 clinicians.

Results: From May 2021 to November 2022, the DACs completed outreach to 16 045 patients. Of the 13 413 patients they reached, they successfully enrolled 8193 (61%) patients in the patient portal. Of those patients they enrolled, most patients were of Other race, Hispanic ethnicity, and were English-speaking (44%) and Spanish-speaking patients (44%). Using our embedded model, we increased enrollment across 7 clinics (mean increase: 21.3%, standard deviation: 9.2%). Additionally, we identified key approaches for implementing a digital navigation program.

Conclusion: Organizations can support patient portal enrollment, a key part of digital health equity, by creating and prioritizing digital navigation programs.