Only 15 percent of family physicians have used telehealth services, according a study in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.
The researchers — led by Miranda A. Moore, PhD, a family and preventive medicine researcher at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta — surveyed 1,557 family physicians on their attitudes toward telehealth. Researchers selected participants from a random sample of the 2014 American Medical Association physician master file.
After analyzing survey responses, the researchers determined family physicians who were based in a rural setting, worked in a practice owned by an integrated health system and provided hospital, urgent or emergency care were most likely to use telehealth.
Overall, the researchers found family physicians reported limited use of telehealth, despite interest in the technology. "Many of the barriers to using telehealth services cited by [family physicians] are amenable to policy modification," the study authors concluded.
Most articles on telehealth:
CBO releases spending estimates for CHRONIC Care Act of 2017: 4 things to know
Telemedicine abortion outcomes comparable to clinic setting, study finds
Illinois hospital taps Advanced ICU Care for cardiac monitoring