Telehealth

Telehealth By The Numbers: Is Virtual Care Here To Stay?

Before March of 2020, what did a doctor’s appointment look like to you? Booking an appointment, taking time off work to make the mid-day appointment, driving for 30 minutes to the doctor’s office, paying for parking, spending time in the waiting room – just for a prescription refill or simple question? Before the pandemic, the average 5-minute appointment took two hours away from a person’s day.  

Since then, COVID-19 and life in quarantine have changed how we access healthcare. Now, there is no more driving, parking, or missing time from work – all because telehealth has increased access; not to mention convenience.

Pre-pandemic, over 68% of Canadians skipped appointments every year because of long wait times and in-person barriers. Virtual care provides a solution that eases the many restrictions in place for patients. A recent study by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) found that two-thirds of doctors were delivering care virtually, while 46% of Americans now use telehealth services. 


So is virtual healthcare here to stay? The numbers suggest it is. Here’s what they say:

 
  • Between March and April 2020, virtual urgent care visits grew by 683%
  • Non-urgent virtual care visits grew by 4,345%
  • By the end of 2020, there will be roughly 1 billion virtual healthcare visits in the U.S
  • 46% of baby boomers and 47% of seniors reported that they used technology to refill a prescription in the last 12 months
  • 88% of respondents indicated that they are comfortable using at least one form of telemedicine – regardless of age and tech-savviness

Patient Satisfaction

  • 92% of virtual care users are satisfied with their experience
  • 45% thought the process was easy
  • 38% said it was efficient
  • 30% said it was convenient

Tech-savvy?

  • 51% of telehealth appointments were scheduled online
  • 91% of respondents are likely to book a virtual rather than an in-person appointment in the future
  • 45% of patients will choose a provider who offers telehealth services

Generational Divide?

  • 60% of Gen Z schedule appointments online
  • 42% of Millennials schedule appointments online
  • 50% of Baby Boomer’s schedule appointments online
  • Seniors who used technology in other areas of their life (like an iPad) were more likely to try virtual care

Telehealth: Your Post-Pandemic Healthcare Outlook

When quarantine began in March, telemedicine accounted for less than 0.15% of billable healthcare services.  The sudden need for remote services forced health care providers to rapidly adapt. The pandemic has shown how critical it is to maintain access to healthcare; not only for vulnerable populations but for standard patient care. 


The pandemic is far from over, and nobody can say with certainty what life will look like post-COVID-19. What is becoming more evident is that telehealth technology and engaging patients from a distance will continue to evolve and expand and become a permanent part of healthcare delivery. Learn how Cliniconex can help you grow your digital patient engagement opportunities here.

 

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