A video montage features people talking about how they use technology to manage their health. They typify, in some ways, populations that are sidelined from healthcare by lack of privilege: A middle aged couple living in a rural community with patchy wifi; a young family for whom English is a second language; a formerly incarcerated young man. They share frustration, anxiety, and concerns over how their health data will be used and protected. These interviews call attention to the disconnect between the robust investment and developments in health tech adoption for clinicians and patients over the past 12 years and the very patients expected to use this technology.
The video is part of a 2021 research partnership between Ipsos Healthcare and the HLTH Foundation that conducted patient and industry research into techquity in healthcare. The project led to the formation of the HLTH Foundation’s new Techquity for Health Coalition. Its goal is to help integrate health equity standards into healthcare technology and data practices. The Coalition describes techquity as the strategic design, development, and deployment of technology to advance health equity, and acknowledgement that technology can inhibit advancements in health equity if not implemented intentionally and inclusively.
The first major project for the Coalition is a National Techquity for Health survey. It plans to share findings from the survey at the second annual ViVE conference in Nashville March 26-29, together with a new patient video featuring young people discussing their experiences with health technology—part of the Coalition’s strategy to keep patient experiences front-and-center in the techquity dialogue.
