64% of Americans would conduct physician visits via video

A majority (64 percent) of Americans would be willing to "visit" their physicians via video, according to a recent American Well survey.

Physician visits via video is just one way telehealth is expected to change the landscape of healthcare in the near future. According to the survey or more than 2,000 Americans age 18 and older, telehealth is also likely to impact after-hours care, primary care and how patients choose a physician.

Listed below are nine findings from the survey.

  • Roughly 63 percent of respondents believe that live video visits are more likely to yield an accurate diagnosis than phone or email alone.
  • Among smartphone users, the belief that video visits are superior to phone or email was even higher at 69 percent.
  • Sixty-two percent felt a video visit should be less expensive than an in-person visit.
  • Although the emergency department is still the first choice for late-night urgent care, video visits are now the second choice overall for consumers if their child or a loved one was sick with a high fever.
  • Additionally, 21 percent of respondents said they would choose a video visit first over going to the ED. That number jumps to 30 percent among parents with young children.
  • Seventy percent report they'd prefer an online video visit to an in-office visit to obtain common primary care prescriptions.
  • Telehealth visits piqued respondents' interest for getting prescriptions refilled (60 percent), antibiotics (41 percent) and chronic condition management medication (40 percent).
  • About 7 percent report they would switch primary care physicians in favor of one who offers telehealth visits.
  • A vast majority (88 percent) of respondents prefers to choose a physician, rather than have one assigned, based on the physician's online profile, among other considerations.

The survey was conducted between Dec. 1 and Dec. 3, 2014 by Harris Poll on behalf of American Well. American Well is a web and mobile telehealth operator.

 

 

More articles on telehealth:
8 findings on consumer telehealth preferences
St. Mary's awarded $1M to launch first telehealth program for kids in NY
Opinion: Technology is holding telemedicine back

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