While hospitals have invested in building out their telemedicine services over the past few years, many of these programs haven't grown as much as medical professionals expected, according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. To investigate why, the publication spoke with physicians and patients at Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth about its telemedicine app, "eCare."
Five things to know:
1. AdventHealth debuted eCare three years ago as a way to allow patients with minor health problems — such as sore throats, sinus infections or colds — to conduct video consultations with physicians. The health system thought the service would catch on immediately.
"I thought people would be calling in nonstop," Tim Hendrix, MD, the AdventHealth physician who oversees the eCare program, told the News-Journal.
2. However, patient use of the app has been slow. Although more than 7,000 patients downloaded and registered for the service in 2018, eCare's staff provides services to only 10 callers on a typical day.
3. Dr. Hendrix attributed the slow adoption to patients being hesitant to forgo a face-to-face visit with a physician.
"There is a hesitancy of people to use the app because it is unfamiliar," he said.
4. Elizabeth Roze, a 65-year-old patient, told the News-Journal she feels more comfortable with in-person physician visits.
"I want face-to-face care," she said. "Too many issues can slip by, it needs to be followed up with tests."
5. Another patient who spoke with the News-Journal, Bonnie Pressler, had used eCare at 2 a.m. on a day she had the flu — however, despite saying she "really liked" the app, she still said she preferred in-person care. She said she would use the app again if she was unable to get a timely appointment or if she needed care during off hours, according to the News-Journal.