In its Health Care Consumer Trust Survey, Bright.md found that more than two-thirds of those who responded said they most trusted their own doctor or hospital to provide care, while half indicated they would choose any provider or hospital over the retailers and technology companies that are increasingly entering the market.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on the Bright.md website.
Nine out of 10 patients do not trust retailers, like Best Buy and Walmart, to deliver health care services or protect health information. And the trust factor is even lower for companies like Amazon, Google and Facebook, which are making forays into the industry now with virtual care and health care information services.
“Our survey shows that a strong connection between patients and physicians still exists,” said Dr. Ray Costantini, M.D., CEO and co-founder of Bright.md. “Competition for attracting and retaining patients is at an all-time high. Patients want on-demand access to information and care that tech giants and retailers promise, but they aren’t yet ready to rely on those companies for their health care needs. For now, patients clearly prefer to use their own or other providers, who they are most likely to entrust with their care and personal information. These patient sentiments underscore the tremendous opportunity for health care systems and providers to maintain their current competitive advantage by delivering the convenience and access consumers have learned to expect in other parts of their lives.”
