39% of Tech-Savvy Consumers Have Not Heard of Telemedicine: HealthMine Survey

PR Newswire

DALLAS, March 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- A March survey of 500 insured consumers who use mobile/internet-connected health applications found that 39% still have not heard of telemedicine. What's more, only one third of respondents say their health plan offers telehealth as an option. However, 93% of those who have used telemedicine say it has lowered their healthcare costs.

Telemedicine allows patients to connect with doctors through smartphones, computers and other devices. It can be a convenient and cost-effective alternative to traditional healthcare. Remote visits tend to be faster and less expensive than most visits to the doctor's office, emergency rooms or urgent care clinics. Fifty-five percent (55%) of respondents who have access to telemedicine have used it.

Despite the potential benefits of telehealth when used appropriately, many Americans still prefer traditional, in-person provider visits. Forty-two percent (42%) of respondents who haven't used telehealth say they prefer a doctor office visit. But, more than a quarter of consumers simply don't know when it is appropriate to use telemedicine versus traditional medicine.

Why Consumers Aren't Using Telemedicine

Reason for not using telehealth	Percentage
Prefer to see a traditional provider	42
Don't know when it is appropriate to use	28
Don't trust a virtual provider to diagnose/treat me	14
Not sure if it's covered by my health insurance	14
Other	11

With education and guidance, more consumers may adopt telemedicine as a valuable channel for certain types of healthcare delivery. When asked which medical services they would consider using telehealth for (as opposed to traditional medicine), here is how respondents answered:

When Consumers Would Consider Using Telemedicine

Medical service	Percentage
Follow-up care for acute illness	44
Symptom tracking/diagnosis	44
Medication management/prescription renewal	44
Follow-up care for a chronic condition	34
Remote monitoring of vital signs	31
Behavioral/mental health	24
Nothing	11
Other	1

Bryce Williams, CEO and President of HealthMine said, "Telehealth will find its place in the health services market as did urgent care centers." He continued, "Health plan sponsors can play a significant role in educating their members about optimal options for treatment."

About the Survey
The HealthMine Survey queried 500 consumers who use mobile and/or Internet-connected health applications/devices, and are enrolled in a 2016 health plan. The survey was fielded by Survey Sampling International (SSI) in March of 2016. Data were collected via an opt-in panel. The margin of error is 4%. Survey Sampling International (SSI) has been the Worldwide Leader in Survey Sampling and Data Collection Solutions, across every mode, for 37 Years.

About HealthMine
HealthMine, a leading consumer health engagement company, has developed the wellness industry's first and only Personal Clinical Engagement solution. HealthMine empowers individuals to make meaning of their health information by automatically collecting clinical data, identifying risk for chronic disease, and setting health goals. Making it easy for consumers to manage their own health, HealthMine provides a personalized health portal available on any device, and delivers tailored recommendations, resources and incentives. HealthMine has more than one million users, and has saved employers and payers more than $100 million in healthcare costs. The company, founded in 2008, is based in Dallas, Texas with offices in San Francisco, New York and Minneapolis.