Smart “Healthy” Cities: Healthcare Digital Infrastructure in Urban Communities
Jada Croom
Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation
College: College of Liberal Arts
Major: Sociology
Faculty Research Mentor: Julia Nevarez Dejesus
Abstract:
Urban healthcare systems often face significant challenges despite serving high population density areas. While urban areas represent a large portion of the global population demographic, healthcare in these regions is frequently underfunded and inadequate, particularly for minority and underserved communities. This study examines the potential impact of smart city technology on improving healthcare access and outcomes, with a particular focus on minority communities. By critically analyzing a range of peer-reviewed articles addressing key healthcare realms — such as maternal health, cancer care, and general wellness -- the research highlights the challenges, role, and possibilities of digital infrastructures in mitigating healthcare disparities of pressing healthcare issues. The findings suggest that integrating smart city technologies to healthcare in the form of telemedicine, electronic health records and health information systems, wearable health monitoring devices, IoT healthcare solutions, and smart hospital infrastructure, to name a few which could significantly enhance life expectancy and overall well-being in urban populations. These results underscore the urgent need for the implementation of smart city innovations to address the healthcare disparities facing underserved communities.