Software Advice's primary research on patient interest in adopting telemedicine.

1. Software Advice IndustryView:
Patient Interest in Adopting Telemedicine
Trends and best practices from the industry

2. Telemedicine and telehealth services, in which medical visits are conducted via
software on a secure videoconferencing platform, can help increase provider
efficiency while providing a convenient service. As videoconferencing and remote
monitoring technology continues to advance, telemedicine is increasingly
becoming a part of routine medical care.
!
To learn how providers can use this technology to better serve patients, Software
Advice conducted a survey gauging public interest in virtual medical visits as a
tool for diagnosing and treating minor illnesses.
Abstract

3. Seventy-five percent of patients are at least “moderately interested” in using
videoconferencing software for a virtual visit in lieu of an in-person office visit.
Seventy-Five Percent Interested in Telemedicine
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Extremely
interested
Not at all
interested

4. Just 16 percent of patients say they would prefer to go to the ER for a minor
ailment if they also had access to a health care provider via videoconferencing.
Patients Prefer Virtual Visit Over ER Visit
Strongly prefer
telemedicine
28%
Somewhat prefer
telemedicine
43%
Neutral12%
Somewhat prefer ER12%
Strongly prefer ER4%

5. When asked about their most recent virtual visit, patients favored high quality of
care (21 percent) and not having to travel to the appointment (21 percent).
Telemedicine Users Enjoy Quality of Care, Comfort of Home
Percent of sample
High quality of care
Don't have to travel
Comfort of home
Quick access to care
Shorter wait time
Easy to use
Avoid waiting room
Cost effective
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

6. Twenty-one percent of patients find the lack of in-person interaction troublesome,
with many pointing out that the visit was “less personal” than an in-person visit.
Telemedicine Users Miss In-Person Interaction
Percent of sample
Missing in-person interaction
Technical issues
No physical exam
Low quality of care
Uncomfortable with video
Cannot read body language
Not enough time spent
Security concerns
Other
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

7. Current telemedicine users report that the technology has improved satisfaction
with and involvement in their medical care.
Satisfaction and Involvement Improve with Telemedicine
Significantly
increases
Significantly
decreases
Satisfaction
Involvement
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

8. A majority of patients (56 percent) are unsure if their health insurance provides
coverage for telemedical visits.
Most Patients Unsure If Insurance Covers Telemedicine
Not sure56%
Does not cover
telemedicine
24%
Does cover
telemedicine
20%

9. As of January 2014, 22 U.S. states currently require insurers to reimburse for
telemedicine visits and in-office visits equally.
Twenty-Two States Provide Coverage for Telemedicine

10. Fifty-eight percent of survey respondents are male; 41 percent are female and 1
percent prefer not to disclose their gender.
Fifty-Eight Percent of Respondents Are Male
Male58%
Female41%
Prefer not to disclose
1%

11. Almost half (48 percent) of survey respondents are between the age of 25 and 34.
Forty-Eight Percent of Respondents Aged 25 - 34
Percent of sample
18 - 24
25 - 34
35 - 44
45 - 54
54 - 64
65+
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

12. The highest percentage of respondents have an annual income of less than
$25,000 (23 percent).
Twenty-Three Percent Report Income Below $25,000/year
$100,000 or more8%
Less than $25,00023%
$25,000 - $34,99916%
$35,000 - $49,99920%
$50,000 - $74,99922%
$75,000 - $99,99910%

13. Read the full report
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