On March 27, Credit Suisse https://www.credit-suisse.com reported on the results of their survey obtained from 230 healthcare industry stakeholders. The survey results were from 59% of C-level or mid-level executives at healthcare firms along with 43 institutional investor clients as to their expectations related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey reported their thoughts on the future use of telemedicine, plus other technologies or innovative tools that could or should be used to combat the coronavirus.
Most Investors and institutional investors see COVID-19 peaking in the 1H of May but there was a wide range of responses as to when things will return to normalcy in the U.S. Around 36% of investor respondents are relatively more optimistic and see active cases peaking in April.
Survey respondents were asked about their thoughts on when things are likely to return to normalcy in the U.S. This survey question produced a wide-range of responses from investors expect the return to normalcy to go from the 1H of May to 1H of July.
In general healthcare industry stakeholders were slightly more optimistic on the timing of active cases peaking but slightly less bullish on things returning to normalcy. Roughly 56% of industry stakeholders see active cases peaking in April, another 33% see active cases peaking in May.
In general, respondents in the South were the most optimistic on the timing, respondents from the West were less optimistic, and respondents from the East were even less optimistic as to when active cases would peak. Industry stakeholders produced a wide range of responses. 28% of respondents see returning to normalcy before the end of May and 52% respondents expect normalcy by the end of 1H20.
The survey questioned long term views on the use of telemedicine. 56% of investor respondents and 54% of healthcare industry executives and experts believe that the increased awareness resulting from the current situation should move the telehealth adoption curve forward.
Health industry executives and experts were asked about other technologies related to using innovative tools/process (beyond telemedicine) in or outside of the U.S that could or would potentially effectively combat the virus.
Results included a wide array of innovative technologies but those most mentioned were technologies related to Remote Patient Monitoring, AI-based screening tools, loT-enabled devices, and solutions that will increase interoperability related to the use of data.
Some other ideas resulting from the survey include:
- The need for drive-through testing and the integration of health monitoring and connected device data
- Use of drones to deliver medication etc. to patients
- Advanced predictive and prescription analytics needed for population health management
- Zoom to be used with Epic by provider groups
- AI to be used for surveillance and capacity
- Providing real time EMS ambulance services
- Using 3D printing of masks and other supplies to help offset critical supply chain needs
- Developing technology to use to help individuals address anxiety and depression
- Using infrared sensors to ensure social distancing
- Using geo-tracking via iPhone/android to establish virus migration patterns
- Using virtual reality technologies and more CPT codes to cover additional remote patient monitoring services
- Using social media and personal devices to share health stats with providers
Some of the survey respondents want to see improved predictive models plus visualizations of disease spread along with the socioeconomic, health, and healthcare consequences that might or will be coming in the case of future COVID waves.
Recently,, Credit Suisse talked to Teladoc Health (TDOC) management. While TDOC did not provide an incremental update to figures on their weekly visits, Credit Suisse researchers believe that TDOC’s daily visit figures have likely continued to trend higher then were announced two weeks ago. This is the result of the number of COVID-19 cases likely to continue to increase is several states that have ordered lockdown plus the continued strain the virus is having on the country’s healthcare delivery platform.
For more information or to provide feedback, email Jailendra Singh at jailendra.singh@credit-suisse.com or call 212-325-8121.