Eighty-one percent of family physicians report that the availability of medical information on mobile devices has changed the dynamic of office visits, according to a Merck Manuals survey.
The survey, conducted at a medical conference, collected responses from 220 family physicians.
Here are four things to know about how hospital visits have changed:
1. A total of 66 percent of family physicians report accessing medical information on a mobile device more than 10 times a day, including to check diagnosis information, to search for medical news and to explain information to patients.
2. A total of 56 percent of family physicians said physicians and patients are more likely to review medical information together than in previous years.
3. A total of 29 percent of family physicians reported that appointments are more efficient due to mobile medical information.
4. A total of 34 percent of family physicians said patients arrive more informed and prepared than in the past.
5. However, a total of 33 percent of family physicians said that patients arrive to office visits misinformed.