Jul 22
2015
Telemedicine Services Have Yet to Gain General Acceptance
Telemedicine initiatives may have a promising future within the American healthcare system, and could alleviate the shortage of general practitioners, increase reliable access to basic and preventative care, and reduce overall costs. Despite potential positive outcomes of telemedicine platforms, patients remain dubious about this remote option and the quality of diagnosis made during virtual appointments.
According to a nationwide study conducted by TechnologyAdvice Research, nearly 65 percent of respondents said they would be somewhat or very unlikely to choose a virtual appointment, while only 35.4 percent stated the opposite. Approximately 75 percent of people reported they either would not trust a diagnosis made via telemedicine, or would trust this method less than an in-doctor visit.
“This is perhaps the largest issue that telemedicine vendors and healthcare providers will need to overcome,” said Cameron Graham, managing editor at TechnologyAdvice and the study’s author. “If patients don’t trust the diagnoses made during telemedicine calls, they may ignore the advice given, fail to take preventative steps, or seek additional in-person appointments, which defeats the point of telemedicine.”
Telemedicine is a newer technology in the medical industry, with greater lack of familiarity, but data from the study shows that younger patients may be less skeptical. Only about 17 percent of 18- to 24-year old respondents, and 24 percent of 25- to 44-year olds, said they wouldn’t trust a virtual diagnosis. Also, 65 percent of respondents said they would be somewhat or much more likely to use a virtual appointment system if they had first seen the doctor in-person.
“This suggests much of the hesitation about telemedicine may stem from patient fears over lack of physician choice, or lack of familiarity with the doctor they see,” said Graham. “This can likely be eased through a combination of education materials, and clear explanations about how much physician choice is offered.”
To increase acceptance of telemedicine and use of such services, healthcare providers and vendors need to focus on effectively explaining the advantages of these platforms. A combined 70 percent of respondents reported at least one of the following factors would make them more likely to use a virtual appointment: more convenient scheduling options, lower cost, less time spent in the waiting room, and ability to conduct virtual appointments at home.
The original data contained in this report comes from a nationwide internet survey of 504 U.S. adults (age 18 and over). The survey participants were surveyed about their preferences and feelings regarding telemedicine services.
More information on this survey’s results and methodology can be found here. The full report is also available for download here.
About TechnologyAdvice:
TechnologyAdvice is dedicated to educating, advising, and connecting buyers and sellers of business technology. As a trusted resource in a variety of technology verticals, the company helps buyers improve their businesses and vendors find their customers. Through unbiased research and crowd-sourced product reviews, TechnologyAdvice provides the insight that buyers need to find the right technology solution. TechnologyAdvice is based in Nashville, Tenn., and was named to the Inc. 5000 list of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies in 2014.
The article offers a brief summary of the current state of telemedicine adoption. The benefits of telemedicine, such as improved patient participation, lower costs, and simpler access to care, are successfully highlighted by the author. The use of telemedicine is still constrained by concerns with funding and regulation, technology limitations, and patient reluctance. Overall, this blog provides a great introduction to the present utilization of telemedicine and the challenges that need to be handled in order for it to be more extensively employed.