Digital health tools such as patient portals, telemedicine, and mobile apps are now central to health care delivery, yet patients’ ability to benefit from these tools depends on their digital readiness. In a national survey of 144 clinicians and informatics leaders conducted in early 2024, fewer than half (44%) reported that their health systems screen patients for digital readiness.

As health care increasingly shifts online, digital inclusion has become a critical pathway to health equity. This policy brief examines how access to broadband, devices, digital skills, and technical support shapes patients’ ability to engage in virtual care, use patient portals, and manage health through digital tools such as telehealth, mobile apps, and remote monitoring.

This study evaluated a brief scale to assess digital skills among adults aged 50 and older across English, Spanish, and Cantonese speakers.