There has been a rapid acceleration of telehealth since the advent of COVID-19, according to a Vivify Health survey of healthcare consumers. A full 70% of respondents say at least one of their providers now offers telehealth, a significant increase compared to last year?s survey in which only 17% said they have access to remote care.
Moreover, within the Vivify survey respondent group that sees a provider who offers telehealth, 8 out of 10 reported a positive experience with the technology.
Key survey findings:
- Nearly eight in ten reported they are very or somewhat interested in switching to providers who can accommodate virtual visits.
- Half of surveyed patients reported that COVID-19 has made them more willing to seek virtual care in the future.
- A majority reported virtual visits can address at least some of their medical concerns.
- A small percentage of survey respondents said none of their providers have ever mentioned telehealth as an option.
Vivify Health?s annual virtual care survey findings reinforce the digital disruption and shifting market and patient dynamics amid COVID-19.
Thanks to telehealth, patients not putting off care
Of the Vivify Health survey respondents, 66% said virtual visits can address at least some of their medical concerns, with an additional 27% stating that most of their medical needs can be met using telemedicine.
It may be because of their confidence in telehealth that nearly half of survey respondents said they are not planning to put off regular medical visits or physical check-ups due to COVID. Remarkably, 73% are not planning to put off major surgery, elective or non-elective, due to COVID.
A new study from Mayo Clinic shows patients are satisfied with telemedicine encounters for reasons beyond access, convenience and prescription receipt.
?COVID-19 hastened the rise in virtual care that we knew was coming for a long time,? said Eric Rock, CEO of Vivify Health. ?Virtual visits are now a regular, everyday part of reality. Patients and providers have discovered that the technology is great for episodic and routine care, as well as regular visits with sick patients. What we?re learning is that the more we can equip patients with the right technology to facilitate remote visits, the more they can be leveraged. In the near future, we anticipate almost every need outside of emergencies and surgery ? be it chronic disease management or an infection treatment? to be conducted through virtual visits. Right now, the only barriers are education and getting the right tools into the hands of providers and their patients. But that is improving at a rapid pace.?