Patients responsible for high out-of-pocket costs are significantly more likely to communicate health concerns to providers via online methods rather than in-office visits, according to a study published by the American Journal of Managed Care.
As patient satisfaction scores and health outcomes become more financially valuable to future reimbursement rates, healthcare organizations have a vested interest in reducing expensive and unnecessary office visits.
"Although recent estimates show that most physicians in the United States are not yet regularly communicating with their patients electronically, most patients indicate an interest in communicating directly with their healthcare providers online," reported the study, conducted by researchers from Kaiser Permanente, the University of Tennessee and Massachusetts General Hospital.
Below are five findings from the study:
1. Higher out-of-pocket costs were significantly associated with patients choosing email as a first method of contact with providers.
2. Of respondents overall, 46 percent said online patient engagement tools were their first choice for contacting clinicians about one or more types of medical concerns.
3. Within one year, 56 percent of patients with access to online engagement tools had sent their provider an email at least once.
4. Thirty-six percent of patients who communicated with providers by email reported a reduction in office visits.
5. A third of respondents who use online engagement tools believed the activity helped to noticeably improve their health.