Amwell https://business.amwell.com commissioned Dynata https://www.dynata.com to conduct an online study among more than 2,000 adults and also commissioned M3 Global Consulting LLC, https://m3globalconsulting.com to conduct an online survey of 600 physicians.
This online survey included 300 primary care physicians and 300 specialists with the goal to measure consumer and physician perceptions and the usage of telehealth.
In general, the results of the online study suggests that the use of telehealth will accelerate post-pandemic. The trends underscored by the survey indicate that providers and consumers alike want to use telehealth for primary care, chronic care management, and specialty care of all kinds.
According to Ido Schoenberg, Chairman and Co-CEO of Amwell, “This shift suggests the beginning of a rapid transition to a hybrid care model that combines both virtual and physical care settings. This is a welcome change that will enhance the overall care experience. Furthermore, this survey reinforces the staying power of telehealth post-pandemic and calls upon the broader healthcare ecosystem to cement and sustain the hybrid healthcare model.”
The findings showed:
- The shift towards scheduled visits and specialty care is one of the most pronounced trends in telehealth usage during COVID-19. During the pandemic, patients were far more likely to use telehealth for scheduled visits, especially with providers they already knew. Just 21% of consumers that reported having a virtual visit had an on-demand urgent care visit in 2020. By contrast, 54% had a scheduled visit with their primary care physician.
- In 2020, 42% of consumers who reported having a virtual visit had a scheduled visit with a specialist they already knew and another 13% had a virtual visit with a new specialist. Pulmonologists, cardiologists, surgeons, and many other specialists reported a sharp increase in telehealth adoption compared to 2019. The willingness of specialists to use telehealth also increased across the board in 2020, which doubled for several high volume specialties including radiology, cardiology, and surgery.
- The number of consumers who have experienced a virtual visit nearly tripled since last year. Also, 59% of consumers who have had a video visit had their first one during the pandemic, and 91% of patients reported being very or somewhat satisfied with the visit.
- Among providers, the percentage of those who have used telehealth nearly quadrupled since last year, and 84% were very or somewhat satisfied with one of more telehealth platforms, 96% of physicians said they were willing to use telehealth, 94% saying that they would be willing to use it for prescription renewals, 93% would use telehealth for regular chronic care management check-ins, and 71% would use telehealth for follow-up visits after surgery or hospital stays.
The survey concludes by reporting that key barriers still remain as to the adoption of telehealth. While many of the barriers to telehealth adoption have attenuated due to the pandemic, other barriers have emerged and proven more persistent. During COVID-19, 72% of physicians most frequently cited technology challenges as a barrier to telehealth adoption at their organization, with 64% uncertain around reimbursement, and 58% had questions related to clinical appropriateness.