Columbus, OH– What’s the toughest part about getting the medical care you need? Is it finding the right doctor for your unique situation? Is it finding an appointment that can fit into your busy schedule? Is it your outlandish copay? Relief for this arduous process may finally be within reach (or within a click).
The technological advancement of telehealth has given us the opportunity to take control of our personal health in interesting new fashions. A recent survey from Harris Poll shows that this customization of personal health may have a major impact on three core areas in the healthcare delivery process.
Choosing a Doctor
Finding the right doctor is often the first roadblock on the journey to a healthy life. It’s a time consuming and expensive process that can leave people feeling more lost than they already were. Video consultations with doctors are growing in popularity and opening new doors for finding doctors that fit personalized needs, often at a more affordable price than a standard office visit.
- 64% of patients say that they are willing to visit a doctor via a telehealth platform such as video consultations
- 20 million adults would be willing to switch from their current doctor to a telehealth doctor.
Who’s even more excited to make the switch to video visits? You guessed it, the up for whatever millennials. Eleven percent of millennials are willing to switch from their primary care doctor to one that offers video consultations.
After Hours Care
What’s your first inclination when you or a loved one spikes a fever late in the night? I’m guessing it’s probably not the head back to bed and deal with it in the morning approach.
- 44% of patients would go to an emergency room if they or a loved one spiked a high fever in the middle of the night.
- 21% would choose a video visit with a doctor.
Telehealth may be a viable option in non-emergency situations, but from the survey we can see that many patients still find comfort in physically speaking with a doctor about their possibly critical (possibly nothing) condition.
Primary Care
Prescription medication often requires an in-office visit every month just to get refills and establish that everything is going well. The modern consumer has become underwhelmed with this tedious touch base system when things are operating as anticipated.
- 70% of consumers prefer to have an online video visit than an in-office visit to obtain common primary care prescriptions.
- 60% of consumers indicate that they would use telehealth for prescription refills.
- 40% of consumers would use telehealth to manage a chronic condition.
These dynamic changes in healthcare delivery will continue to shape how we receive our care and how we envision the modern doctor’s visit. The only question is how quickly are we willing to adopt these new methods of delivery?
