Around 10% of patients ages 50-64 (pre-Medicare) have used a direct-to-consumer (DTC) telehealth service, compared to 4% of patients ages 65-80. Fifty-five percent of these patients cited convenience as the reason for their choice, and most patients surveyed used DTC services for a one-time issue.
The study also found that one-third of older patients who use a telehealth service and/or receive a prescription from a digital provider do not inform their primary care provider of the visit. This poses issues when a patient doesn’t reveal their full medical history to their primary care provider because the physician’s lack of knowledge could put the patient at risk. This is especially important in regards to prescriptions and potentially dangerous drug interactions.
“For both patients and providers, these findings drive home the importance of open dialogue and transparency about the potential uses, benefits and risks of these services – and the importance of maintaining contact for ongoing primary care,” said Jeffrey Kullgren, MD, poll director, primary care provider at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, and associate professor at the medical school.
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