[Research Update #1] Identifying Potential Populations And Regions For Effective Telemedicine Interventions
Identifying Medically Underserved Populations: A Global Perspective
At Hippocrat, our mission is to revolutionize access to quality healthcare through decentralized telemedicine solutions. As we gear up to launch the world’s first WEB3 telemedicine dApp ‘Hippodoc’, identifying and prioritizing populations most in need is paramount. In a collaboration with ResearchHub, we have embarked on a joint research initiative to pinpoint underserved populations and regions. Through the ResearchHub platform, we successfully recruited two exceptionally competent researchers to spearhead this endeavor. This research marks a pivotal moment in DeSci history, as we leverage decentralized methods to drive tangible, global health improvements.
In this article, we will share the latest update presenting an overview of our methodology for identifying medically underserved areas and highlight key findings, with a particular emphasis on the United States, the Middle East, India, and Europe. As we forge ahead, our unwavering commitment to raising global health standards through innovative, decentralized solutions remains at the forefront of our mission.
Our Approach
To identify medically underserved populations, we looked at three key factors that are commonly associated with healthcare access challenges:
- High poverty rates
- High density of older adults
- Low physician-to-population ratios
Populations that meet multiple of these criteria are considered most underserved. We also took into account the unique challenges of each region, such as ongoing conflicts in parts of the Middle East and the rural-urban divide in India.
Key Findings
United States
In the US, Puerto Rico, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and migrant populations emerged as groups with multiple factors suggesting medical underservice:
- Puerto Rico has an extremely high poverty rate of 43% and the highest proportion of elderly adults at 22%.
- Mississippi and Oklahoma have poverty rates above 15% and rank in the bottom 3 states for physicians per capita.
- Migrant populations often face language barriers, lack of insurance, and fear of seeking care due to immigration status.
Middle East
Ongoing conflicts have the biggest impact on poverty and physician access in this region. Top conflict zones, including Gaza, Syria, and Yemen, are most medically underserved. In North Africa, Sudan and Djibouti have shockingly low access to medical care.
India
India’s population can be segmented based on typical rural-urban divisions:
- Major Cities: ~10%
- Other Urban Areas: ~20–25%
- Rural Areas: ~65–70%
- Tribal Areas: ~8–9%
The government’s three-tier rural healthcare system, consisting of Sub-Centers, Primary Health Centers, and Community Health Centers, is crucial for providing care to underserved populations. Key diseases impacting these groups that could benefit from telemedicine are being identified.
Europe
Europe’s underserved areas are characterized not only by economic factors but also by aging populations leading to depopulation and isolation, especially in:
- Eastern Europe (e.g., Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary)
- Displaced populations and refugees (e.g., in Germany, Italy, Greece)
- Inner city areas in Western Europe
- Post-industrial cities in Western and Central Europe
- Mountainous regions in Southern Europe
- Island communities
Telemedicine has shown promise in addressing healthcare challenges for these populations. Case studies demonstrating its real-life impact are being analyzed.
Next Steps
For the next stage of the review, we plan to conduct more in-depth analyses of specific underserved groups, such as:
- Rural elderly population in Puerto Rico
- Poor people in Mississippi and Oklahoma
- Migrant populations in the US
- General population in Gaza, Syria, Yemen, Sudan and Djibouti
- Rural and tribal populations in India
- Aging populations in depopulated areas of Europe
We will focus on the following categories of health issues, tailoring our approach to the unique needs of each region:
- Dermatological conditions
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Respiratory illnesses
- Infectious diseases
- Trauma
- Psychiatric consultations
By better understanding the specific health challenges faced by these underserved populations, we aim to develop targeted telemedicine solutions that can make a meaningful difference in their lives. Stay tuned for further updates as we progress in our mission to make quality healthcare accessible to all.
References
Woodall, T., Ramage, M., LaBruyere, J. T., McLean, W., & Tak, C. R. (2020). Telemedicine services during COVID‐19: Considerations for medically underserved populations. The Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 231–234. https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12466
Ricketts, T. C., Goldsmith, L. J., Holmes, G. M., Randolph, R., M. R. P., Lee, R., Taylor, D. H., & Ostermann, J. (2007). Designating places and populations as medically underserved: A proposal for a new approach. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 18(3), 567–589. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2007.0065
Luo, W., & Qi, Y. (2009b). An enhanced two-step floating catchment area (E2SFCA) method for measuring spatial accessibility to Primary Care Physicians. Health & Place, 15(4), 1100–1107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2009.06.002
Katoue, M. G., Cerda, A. A., García, L. Y., & Jakovljevic, M. (2022). Healthcare System Development in the Middle East and North Africa Region: Challenges, endeavors and prospective opportunities. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1045739
