Information and communication technologies may help reduce health disparities
through their potential for promoting health, preventing disease, and supporting
clinical care for all. Unfortunately, those who have preventable health problems
and lack health insurance coverage are the least likely to have access to
such technologies. Barriers to access include cost, geographic location, illiteracy,
disability, and factors related to the capacity of people to use these technologies
appropriately and effectively. A goal of universal access to health information
and support is proposed to augment existing initiatives to improve the health
of individuals and the public. Both public- and private-sector stakeholders,
particularly government agencies and private corporations, will need to collaboratively
reduce the gap between the health information "haves" and "have-nots." This
will include supporting health information technology access in homes and
public places, developing applications for the growing diversity of users,
funding research on access-related issues, ensuring the quality of health
information and support, enhancing literacy in health and technology, training
health information intermediaries, and integrating the concept of universal
access to health information and support into health planning processes.