OSF examines how digital visits can improve health care

PEORIA ( 25News Now ) - OSF HealthCare hopes virtual visits can bridge the gap between underserved groups of people and build trust back into the healthcare system.

On Wednesday OSF hosted a symposium in Peoria to examine the future of digital care challenges and opportunities.

Health economist, advisor, and trend-spotter Jane Sarasohn-Kahn said the U.S. has a very broken healthcare system compared to other countries.

Health platform KKF.org stated that Blacks are among the groups that have a shorter life expectancy range between 60–70 years old compared to their White counterparts of around 78 years old.

Sarasohn-Kahn adds that the main challenge of these disparities is the lack of Wi-Fi connection and trust in the healthcare systems.

"So, the home visitor could be on your watch [or] phone, and this has been particularly exciting of the era of mental health, which has been underserved, and under-resourced in many communities. So now we have virtual care for mental health helping so many more people," she said

She adds that having more one-on-one relationships through technology may help bridge those gaps. Contact your provider to learn about digital appointment options.