Comparing In-Person Only, Telemedicine Only, and Hybrid Health Care Visits Among Older Adults in Safety-Net Clinics.

Abstract

Introduction: Older adults face challenges in seeking health care. This study examined factors associated with in-person only versus telemedicine only versus hybrid health care visits among adults 65+ in safety-net clinics.

Methods: Data were obtained from a large Texas-based Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) network. The dataset included 12,279 appointments for 3914 unique older adults between March and November 2020. The outcome of interest was a 3-level indicator of telemedicine visits: in-person visits only, telemedicine visits only, and hybrid (in person + telemedicine) visits during the study period. We used a multinomial logit model adjusting for patient level characteristics to assess the strength of the relationships.

Results: Compared to their white counterparts, black and Hispanic older adults were significantly likely to have telemedicine only visits versus in-person only visits (black RRR: 0.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.41-0.86; Hispanic RRR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.36-0.60). However, there were no significant racial and ethnic differences in hybrid utilization (black RRR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.67-1.23; Hispanic RRR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.70-1.07).

Discussion: Our findings suggest that hybrid opportunities may bridge racial and ethnic disparities in access to care. Clinics should consider building capacity for both in-person and telemedicine opportunities as complementary strategies.