As healthcare continues its digital transformation, the role of patient advocacy has never been more critical. Digital health technologies, from telehealth platforms to mobile health apps, are reshaping how patients interact with healthcare systems. Yet these advancements, while promising greater accessibility and personalization, also risk widening healthcare disparities if not guided by strong patient advocacy.
The Evolving Landscape of Patient Advocacy
Patient advocacy has evolved significantly in the digital age. Beyond traditional roles of navigating insurance coverage and medical paperwork, today’s health advocates must bridge the growing digital divide that affects many patients’ ability to access and benefit from digital health tools.
Since January 2024, the expansion of Medicare coverage for patient advocacy services has transformed the field, with companies like Solace connecting patients with healthcare advocates who assist with critical tasks like appointment scheduling and paperwork. This change has not only improved patient care but also boosted the commercial viability of advocacy services, with Solace now being in-network with all major Medicare Advantage plans and aiming for commercial insurance coverage by the end of the year.[^1]
Digital Health Tools: Enhancing Patient Education and Empowerment
Digital health technologies have tremendous potential to improve patient education and advocacy, particularly in underserved and remote areas. These tools empower patients by providing access to reliable health information, enhancing their ability to engage meaningfully in healthcare decisions.
The World Health Organization defines patient empowerment as “a procedure that gives patients the information and abilities so that they can have more influence over choices and behaviors that have an impact on their health.” Digital tools enhance this empowerment, especially for populations facing barriers to traditional care access, including transportation limitations, language barriers, and unpredictable work schedules that restrict healthcare visit flexibility.[^2]
However, a significant digital divide persists. Nearly one-quarter of individuals in the United States lack fixed home broadband connectivity, with elder people (32.56%), disabled people (20%), and those with lower incomes (18.14%) being the most likely to be excluded from digital spaces. This divide underscores the need for patient advocates who can help bridge these gaps, ensuring that digital health benefits reach all populations equitably.[^2]
The Multifaceted Role of Digital Health Advocates
In today’s healthcare ecosystem, patient advocates serve multiple crucial functions:
Overcoming Access Barriers
Patient advocates help individuals navigate the complex landscape of digital health tools, ensuring that technological barriers don’t prevent access to care. This includes assisting with telehealth appointments, explaining how to use health monitoring devices, and translating complex health information into actionable insights.
Promoting Health Equity
As healthcare systems increasingly rely on digital technologies, advocates play a pivotal role in preventing these tools from exacerbating existing inequalities. By focusing on inclusivity and accessibility, advocates ensure that underserved populations are not further marginalized by the digital transition.
For rural and remote communities, advocates are particularly vital in connecting patients with telehealth services, helping overcome both technological and knowledge barriers. Digital health advocates address challenges like limited broadband availability, lack of digital literacy, and disparities in access to reliable technology.[^3]
Building Digital Health Literacy
Beyond just facilitating access, patient advocates now focus on building patients’ capacity to independently navigate digital health systems. This includes education on how to evaluate online health information, effectively use patient portals, and engage with remote monitoring tools.
Strategic Approaches for Effective Digital Health Advocacy
Organizations seeking to strengthen patient advocacy in digital health can implement several evidence-based strategies:
Expand Connectivity Solutions
Creating public Wi-Fi hotspots with accessible kiosks and monitors can provide internet access to those without home broadband. Telehealth centers with in-person assistance can particularly benefit elderly and disabled populations, offering both healthcare access and social interaction opportunities.
Develop Hardware Lending Programs
Following models like those implemented by Veterans Administration hospitals, organizations can mail devices to patients prior to telehealth appointments, ensuring technological limitations don’t prevent care access.[^2]
Provide Standardized Technology Training
Detailed instructions and FAQs can significantly reduce technical issues during telehealth appointments. As technological advances continue and more Baby Boomers require medical care, these resources become increasingly important for patients who aren’t tech-savvy.
Implement Feedback Mechanisms
Systematic collection of patient feedback is essential for continuous improvement of digital health advocacy. Regular surveys can help identify gaps in service delivery and inform adjustments to patient education and advocacy initiatives.
The Path Forward: Integration and Specialization
As healthcare continues its digital evolution, patient advocacy must evolve in parallel. Organizations should invest in specialized training for advocates who understand both healthcare systems and digital technologies. These professionals serve as critical bridges between increasingly technological healthcare delivery models and the diverse populations they serve.
The most effective digital health initiatives recognize that technology alone cannot address healthcare disparities. Rather, it’s the thoughtful integration of technology with compassionate, person-centered advocacy that will ultimately transform healthcare access and outcomes.
For healthcare organizations seeking to enhance patient experiences in the digital era, investing in well-trained patient advocates who can navigate both human and technological aspects of care delivery isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential for ensuring that digital health fulfills its promise of more accessible, equitable, and effective healthcare for all.
To discuss your organization’s patient advocacy needs in the digital health space, contact The Pharma:Health Practice today.
Footnotes
- “Medicare Coverage Fuels Solace’s $60 Million Series B,” The Wall Street Journal, April 2025.
- “Digital Health Tools: Improving Patient Education and Advocacy in Underserved and Remote Areas,” LinkedIn, January 2024.
- “Health advocacy,” Wikipedia, March 2025.