Telehealth Has An Awareness Problem

Two-thirds of adults are willing to consult with a doctor via video, but only 8% have tried it, according to a new consumer survey by American Well, a major provider of telehealth services.

The poll closely tracks other studies that show consumers have been slow to adopt telehealth (also known as telemedicine), despite the fact that more health plans and self-insured employers are offering it as a benefit. “It’s troubling,“ says Roy Schoenberg, the co-founder and CEO of Boston-based American Well. “Now more people are covered, but they don’t know it’s available.”

Another disconnect: Although 23% of primary care physicians say they now offer virtual visits, only 6% of consumers report that their doctor does. The fact that doctors are increasingly using telehealth should help clear a major hurdle, since most patients prefer to stick to their doctors or see them in person. “The biggest revolution isn’t the adoption of telehealth by patients, it’s by doctors,” says Schoenberg, who has a medical degree. “The vast majority [of patients] follow the orders of physicians, there’s a lot of comfort in that.”

The full Forbes article can be viewed at this link.