Telehealth has rapidly shifted from a niche service to a central component of care delivery, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As popularity grows, clinicians are beginning to understand how virtual care functions across different patient populations. For Black patients, who often face structural barriers, telehealth is emerging as both a critical access point and a complex opportunity.
Similarly, in maternal health, Black women are more likely to encounter barriers to high-quality pre- and postnatal care, including lactation support. Telehealth offers a meaningful intervention. By removing the need for travel and enabling care at home, virtual visits can reduce both logistical and financial burdens. Just as important, telehealth can foster greater comfort and safety, particularly for patients who may have experienced bias or discrimination in clinical settings.
As Larissa Luce, IBCLCS, Director of Clinical Services at Nest Collaborative, explains, “Live, video-enabled telehealth sessions, with quick access, [can help] address structural barriers to obtaining lactation care.” She adds that “appointments 365 days a year, including one-on-one, on-demand, and group visits… help patients get care quickly, and in a way that suits their needs.”
Luce and other experts share how providers are using telehealth to reach patients with traditional barriers to care.
While telehealth can expand access, it is particularly impactful for Black patients because it addresses disparities that have long shaped healthcare utilization and outcomes. The cost and logistical strain of transportation, work schedules, childcare, and insurance quality can impede access to both preventive and critical care.
Black women, for example, are more likely to initiate breastfeeding at lower rates and discontinue breastfeeding earlier, not due to lack of intention but because of systemic barriers, including limited access to culturally competent care. Telehealth is helping to narrow these gaps.
By improving continuity of care and enabling more frequent follow-ups, virtual platforms are supporting breastfeeding families. This impact is already measurable, according to Nest Collaborative, a provider of telehealth lactation services, conducting online video appointments to guide parents. According to Luce, “In a 2026 outcome study, 78 percent of Black Nest patients breastfed to 6 months compared to the national average of only 52 percent.” This suggests that when access barriers are reduced and care is tailored to patient needs, disparities can begin to close.
However, access is not evenly distributed even within telehealth. The so-called digital divide remains a persistent issue. Patients without reliable internet access, sufficient data plans, or familiarity with video technology may still struggle to engage with virtual care.
The effectiveness of telehealth for Black patients is closely tied to how well clinicians understand and address social determinants of health. Access to technology, digital literacy, housing stability, and even prior healthcare experiences all shape how patients engage with virtual care.
As Kezia Joy, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Medical Advisor at the UK-based health platform, Welzo, notes, “Telehealth platforms that are easily accessible via a cell phone or other mobile device, requiring as little data usage as possible, are most helpful for reaching under-resourced groups.” She emphasizes that tools such as SMS reminders, voice calls, and simplified video platforms can help reduce technological barriers and improve patient engagement.
Clinicians who treat telehealth as a purely technical solution risk overlooking these contextual factors. This may involve assessing whether a patient has reliable internet access, feels comfortable using digital platforms, or has privacy at home to participate in a virtual visit. It may also mean recognizing how prior experiences of bias or discrimination influence trust in healthcare systems.
Joy reminds us that access alone isn’t the only element of success. “Building patient trust for virtual care begins with being transparent about privacy and data protection.” Patients need to understand how their information is stored and whether platforms are secure.
Luce emphasizes that trust-building begins with cultural humility. In virtual settings, where physical presence is absent, these relational skills become even more critical. In maternal care, these realities are particularly sensitive. “It is important to understand that each individual’s lived experiences, including any birth trauma, may shape their outcomes,” she explains. However, telehealth also enables culturally astute care providers to reach more people, including those not in their immediate vicinity, whom they could serve through virtual or online platforms.
Mental health support platforms like Betterhelp and Therapy for Black Girls, for example, include directories of providers across the country and globe, including those who have specializations that might be hard to access for patients in rural or distant locations.
Incorporating these principles into telehealth delivery can help care practitioners mitigate some of the limitations of virtual care while strengthening patient-provider relationships.
For clinicians, the challenge is not simply adopting telehealth, but integrating it thoughtfully into care models that reflect patients’ lived realities. This often requires a hybrid approach that combines the convenience of virtual care with the depth of in-person evaluation when needed.
Telehealth is particularly effective for services that rely on observation, education, and ongoing support. In lactation care, for example, many consultations can be conducted entirely virtually. “The beauty of lactation care is that most aspects can be done entirely through telehealth,” says Luce, noting that collaboration with home health teams remains important for more complex or emergent issues.
At the same time, clinicians must recognize the limits. “If your condition has to rely upon a doctor’s hands, and/or cannot be diagnosed by using some type of diagnostic equipment, then an in-office visit will be much more beneficial,” Joy says. She also notes that sensitive or complex conditions may require face-to-face interaction, reinforcing the value of hybrid care models.
Ultimately, telehealth represents an opportunity to redesign care delivery in more equitable and responsive ways. For Black patients in particular, its success will depend not only on technological innovation, but on whether clinicians and health systems are willing to address the structural and social factors that shape access and trust.
As telehealth continues to evolve, its role in reducing disparities will depend on intentional implementation. When paired with cultural competence, patient-centered design, and a commitment to affordable access to technology, virtual care has the potential to improve how healthcare is delivered and experienced.
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