The majority of healthcare executives and providers — 81 percent — report interest in telemedicine as a method to expand their digital health services, according to a Foley & Lardner survey.
For the "2017 Telemedicine and Digital Health Survey," the law firm asked 107 respondents from hospitals, specialty clinics and ancillary services about their digital health services. The survey, distributed during the third quarter of 2017, includes input from executives and providers.
In the law firm's inaugural survey, published in 2014, 87 percent of respondents said they did not expect patients to be using telemedicine services by this time. However, 76 percent of respondents in the 2017 report said they either offer or plan to offer these remote services.
Fifty-three percent of respondents with telemedicine programs cited plans to grow or expand their telemedicine programs in the 2017 survey. One key area of interest is international expansion, with 54 percent of respondents indicating they offer or are interested in offering telemedicine services in other countries.
When asked about cost-savings associated with telemedicine services, the plurality of respondents — 29 percent — either cited "Yes, more than 20 percent savings" or "No." Other options included 16 percent to 20 percent savings (11 percent), 11 percent to 15 percent savings (14 percent), 5 percent to 10 percent savings (6 percent) or less than 5 percent savings (11 percent).
To access the Foley & Lardner survey, click here.