Defining the Dimensions of Diversity to Promote Inclusion in the Digital Era of Health Care: A Lexicon

Abstract

The pandemic provided a stark reminder of the inequities faced by populations historically marginalized by the health care system and accelerated the adoption of digital health technologies to drive innovation. Digital health technologies' purported promises to reduce inefficiencies and costs, improve access and health outcomes, and empower patients add a new level of urgency to health equity. As conventional medicine shifts toward digital medicine, we have the opportunity to intentionally develop and deploy digital health technologies with an inclusion focus. The first step is ensuring that the multiple dimensions of diversity are captured. We propose a lexicon that encompasses elements critical for implementing an inclusive approach to advancing health care quality and health services research in the digital era.

Keywords: digital access; digital era; digital health; digital health technology/product; digital literacy; digital medicine; digital technology; disparity; equity; health care system; inclusion; innovation; quality.