Is Pennsylvania Ready For Telemedicine Expansion?
"
Telemedicine, according to
Technology often used in telemedicine includes two-way video, wearable devices, smart phones, and wireless tools. It can be used for specialist referral services and consultations, remote patient monitoring, and consumer health education.
"The full use of telemedicine is part of the answer to helping thousands of Pennsylvanians living in areas of the state that are considered medically underserved," says
The most glaring problem for
Not helping matters are the grades for parity that
"When you think of a rural community that lacks specialties like psychiatry, dermatology, and cardiology, the use of telemedicine could be quite valuable," says
However,
But, overall public understanding of telemedicine is a factor that could also be slowing down telemedicine adoption in
The Pennsylvania Patient Poll, conducted
But, 50 percent indicated that they would use videoconferencing from the comfort of their home to see a doctor, and 49 percent said they would trust a diagnosis delivered by video conferencing. These statistics suggest that about half of Pennsylvanians are willing to try it. In addition 58 percent say they likely would use email or the Internet to consult with their physician.
"Once Pennsylvanian's have a chance to experience telemedicine and understand its value, I imagine more would be willing to use telemedicine as the word spreads," says PAMED's
This is unfortunate, says
"There's plenty of peer-reviewed research that shows the cost effectiveness of telemedicine in addition to scientific studies indicating the use of telemedicine has resulted in improved care," says
According to PAMED's Olmstead, a telehealth task force, consisting of a variety of medical specialists from throughout the state, has been convened by the medical society to push for standards in licensure, telemedicine practice principles, and payment parity in the Keystone State.
Chairing the task force is
"There's interest among
The Pennsylvania Patient Poll Statewide Attitude Survey Conducted
Q: How important is it to see your doctor in person or in a face-to-face setting, as opposed to seeing your doctor other ways like with the use of video features or telephone - very important, somewhat important, or not at all important?
1.Very Important 63%2. Somewhat Important 31% Total Important 94%3.Not at all important 06%4.Undecided 00%
Q: If you had the ability to see and talk to your doctor from the comfort of your home with the use of new video conferencing features, would you use this option if it meant you didn't have to travel to your doctor's office every time?
1.Yes 50% 2.No 47% 3.Undecided 02%
Q: How likely would you be to consult with your doctor using the internet or email instead of going to their office if you had that option - very likely, somewhat likely, or not at all likely?
1.Very likely 26% 2.Somewhat likely 32% Total Likely 58% 3.Not at all likely 41% 4. Undecided 00%
Q: Would you trust a diagnosis delivered by way of video conference with your physician?
1.Yes 49% 2.No 43% 3.Undecided 07% 4.Refuse 01%
Survey Demographics
Gender Male 50% Female 50%
Age 21 to 25 10%
26 to 34 16%
35 to 44 14%
45 to 54 19%
55 to 64 19%
65 and older 22%
Party Affiliation
Republican 40%
Democrat 48%
Independent/Other 12%
Health Insurance Status
Yes 97%
No 02%
Refuse 01%
Which of the following statements best describes your current health?
52% I consider myself to be a very healthy person, and/or see the doctor only on a limited basis
34% I consider myself to be a fairly healthy person, but have medical
conditions that require on-going treatments or care
12% I am someone who has one or more serious health-related issues or medical conditions that require constant medical treatments, procedures or surgeries
02% Refuse
Main racial heritage
White 78%
Non-white 20%
Refuse 02%
Areas breaks (from record)
03% Northwest [
11% Southwest [Lawrence,
10% The "T"/
13%
16%
20% Southeast [
11%
15%
Data collection mode
Live Agent Interviews 39%
Automated/IVR Interviews 61%
Methodology: This poll was commissioned by the Pennsylvania Medical
Society and conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research. Completed interviews were conducted
Interviews are conducted with respondents who use a landline telephone as their primary means of contact through our IVR/automated polling software, in which survey respondents score their answers to a pre-recorded set of questions using their telephone key pads. An augmentation of live agent interviews is simultaneously conducted with harder-to-reach segments of the population (e.g., younger age groups, households using cellular telephone exchanges as their primary means of contact, etc.) using the professionally-trained survey research staff from SP&R's main telephone call center. Results to both live agent interviews and automated/IVR surveys are then combined into a single data set. Surveys are carefully monitored to ensure a representative sample of
The margin of error for a sample size of 700 interviews is +/- 3.7% at the 95% confidence level.
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