Posts Tagged ‘telehealth’

73% of consumers ready to use biometric electronic remote monitoring services to track their condition and vital signs

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

According to PWC Report ,  nearly three-quarters (73%) of consumers said they would use biometric electronic remote monitoring services to track their condition and vital signs.

PricewaterhouseCoopers’ research reveals that universal coverage could swamp the health system unless simultaneous steps are taken to create innovative, new care delivery models that will expand access to care without adding costs to the system. Research conclusions and survey findings are in a new PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute (HRI) paper entitled “Jammed access: Widening the front door to healthcare.”

Other interesting finds in the report:

  • Electronic interaction with providers and payers: One-half (50%) of consumers surveyed said they’d be willing to seek healthcare through the Internet or other computer technology as a substitute for a face-to-face, non-emergency visit. Of those, e-mail consultations was the preferred method of interaction (76%),  followed by telehealth, question/answer fee-based consults and an online forum/chat room monitored by a doctor.
  •  Retail and worksite clinics for patients: Of consumers surveyed,   37 percent said they’d be likely to use a worksite clinic, and 36 percent would use a retail health clinic. Ten percent of large employers surveyed in PricewaterhouseCoopers’ 2009 Annual Employer Barometer Survey said they are now providing worksite clinics, up from one percent in 2008.
  • Use of  telehealth technologies: Telehealth, the use of medical   information exchanged from one site to another via electronic   communications, such as video conferencing or bio-metric remote monitoring, is expanding access, particularly to specialty   physicians for patients in remote and underserved areas. Nearly   three-quarters (73%) of consumers said they would use biometric   electronic remote monitoring services to track their condition and vital signs.
  • Shared medical appointments: One in four (28%) of consumers  surveyed said they would be willing to participate in a shared   medical appointment, typically a 60- to 90-minute session that  includes a private or personal exam integrated with patient   education and discussion with a group of 10 to 15 people. Providers currently offering shared medical appointments have   found both patient and physician satisfaction has soared.  Instituting one shared medical appointment can increase patient access and a physician’s productivity by an additional six patients during a four-hour clinic session.

Another few reasons to look into developing Android medical mobile applications……………..