SAT-531 - Improving Telemedicine Utilization for Latinx Patients with Diabetes using A Digital Navigator Program

Background and

Aims:
We have identified disparities in telemedicine (TM) use among Latinx patients with diabetes (DM) compared with non-Latinx patients, which may contribute to downstream differences in clinical outcomes. Limited technology familiarity was the most frequently reported barrier. We aimed to increase TM use and evaluate the impact of language-concordant digital navigation support for Latinx patients within an academic-based DM clinic.

Methods:
We partnered with the Community Health Network of Washington’s Link to Care program, a bilingual hotline that provides technology support to Washington residents, to deliver language-concordant technology assistance. Link to Care staff received additional training focused on DM and clinic-specific support including patient portal access (EPIC, MyChart), Zoom connectivity, and help with sharing continuous glucose monitor (CGM) data and other technologies with clinical teams. General flyers offering non-DM-specific Link to Care services were distributed throughout the clinic, followed by clinic-specific flyers highlighting DM management support to enhance targeted outreach. Providers identified interested patients who were not using TM, and a designated provider conducted post-visit outreach to facilitate connections to Link to Care.

Results:
Baseline, pre-intervention data (2022–2024) showed that 81 Latinx patients were scheduled for at least one TM DM follow-up visit, compared with 3,116 non-Latinx patients. At the time of their first visit during this period, Latinx patients were younger (50.4 ± 13.8 years), more likely to identify as female (59%), and predominantly had type 2 DM (91% vs 71%, p< 0.0001). Latinx patients also exhibited higher HbA1c levels (8.5% vs 7.6%, p=0.07) and significantly lower rates of MyChart activation (75% vs 92%, p< 0.0001), CGM use (20% vs 30%, p=0.05), and TM visit completion rates (85% vs 92%, p=0.03).
Our interim results revealed that during the initial distribution of general, non-DM-specific flyers, the Link to Care hotline received 4 calls over 6 months. Following tailored DM- and clinic-specific outreach, call volumes increased by 50% to date. Calls averaged 27 (13-60) minutes and primarily addressed needs including patient portal registration and DM technology support.

Conclusion:
Targeted, language-concordant, clinic-specific outreach and provider-facilitated referrals were associated with increased utilization of digital navigation support, suggesting that culturally tailored interventions may help reduce TM access disparities among Latinx patients with DM and enhance healthcare engagement, potentially resulting in better DM outcomes.

*Unless otherwise noted, all abstracts presented at ENDO must not be released to the press or the public until the date and time of presentation. For oral presentations, the abstracts are embargoed until the session begins. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to or during ENDO.*