title: Using Health Information Technology to Reach Patients in Underserved Communities: A Pilot Study to Help Close the Gap With Health Disparities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the current era of medical education and curriculum reform, medical schools across the United States are launching innovative approaches to teaching students in order to improve patient outcomes and increase patient safety. One such innovation is the use information technology (IT) that can be used to disseminate health information, especially for patients with limited access to care. Strategies for using health IT to enhance communication between providers and patients in low-income communities can be incorporated into undergraduate medical education (UME) curriculum.
  
  
  METHODS
  A pilot study was conducted to determine if IT could serve as an effective means of communication with patients at a free clinic where 100% of the patients are uninsured; the clinic is located in an urban setting and primarily serves Latinos, the working poor, and the homeless. An anonymous survey was administered to patients to assess rates of IT ownership, general IT use, and IT use for health and medical information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of study participants owned a cell phone (92%); one-third used their cell phone to access health or medical information (38%). Most study participants reported using the Internet (72%), and two-thirds had used the Internet to obtain health and medical information (64%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the difficulties faced by low income and medically underserved communities in accessing healthcare services, the use of IT tools may improve their' access to health information in ways that could enhance patient knowledge and self-management, and perhaps positively impact health outcomes. Therefore, it is essential to incorporate use of IT tools in training for medical students and residents to enhance communication with patients in underserved communities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Population Health, International/Inner City/Rural Preceptorship (I2CRP), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, USA. mark.ryan@vcuhealth.org
authors.forename: Mark H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoder
authors.forename: Sharon K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soh
authors.forename: Allison A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Vanderbilt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000379:methods*; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011204:Poverty Areas; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014768:Virginia; D055815:Young Adult