RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Disparities in Access to Neurologic Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic JF Neurology: Clinical Practice FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins SP e97 OP e101 DO 10.1212/CPJ.0000000000001028 VO 11 IS 2 A1 Gursky, Jonathan M. A1 Boro, Alex A1 Escalante, Sheri A1 Ferastraoaru, Victor A1 Hanumanthu, Rajani A1 Haut, Sheryl A1 Jehle, Rana A1 Molinero, Isaac A1 Rick, Lindsay A1 Rosengard, Jillian A1 Saifeddine, Mohamad A1 Sugrue, William A1 Moshé, Solomon L. A1 Ballaban-Gil, Karen YR 2021 UL http://cp.neurology.org/content/11/2/e97.abstract AB Objective To determine whether there is a disparity in access to telemedical care that may be a function of socioeconomic status, language, or other demographic factors during the peak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic at a highly affected urban center (Montefiore Medical Center) in Bronx, NY.Methods We retrospectively investigated potential patient characteristics that might be associated with an increased likelihood of receiving a telephone visit as opposed to a televideo visit for patients followed in the pediatric neurology, adult epilepsy, and general neurology practices at Montefiore Medical Center during the 30-day period starting April 2, 2020, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York.Results We found that patients who had telephone encounters, as opposed to televideo encounters, were overall older, less likely to have commercial insurance, and more likely to have Medicaid. Among pediatric patients, a preferred language other than English was also associated with a higher proportion of telephone encounters. New patients in both the adult and pediatric groups were more likely to have televideo visits.Conclusions Our findings identify demographic factors, including age, insurance type, and language preference, which may play a role in access to televideo encounters among neurology patients in an urban center during the COVID-19 pandemic. We suggest several potential practice, institution, and community-based interventions, which might further expand access to televideo care for neurology patients.