More and more rapidly, clinicians' attitudes regarding big data and digital technology-enabled healthcare are aligning with those of consumers, according to a recent PricewaterhouseCoopers report.
The use of EHRs has come a long way in the past few years, and the addition of using other databases and digital devices for customer relationship management, billing, research, mobile health and analytics can help clinicians better serve patients, according to the report.
Listed below are additional findings from the report:
- More than half (55 percent) of consumers surveyed said they would be more likely to choose a do-it-yourself option for checking vital signs at home with a device on a phone than a traditional option. Roughly 53 percent of clinicians said they would be comfortable relying on the DIY diagnostic test to prescribe medication.
- Fifty-four percent of consumers would send digital photos of skin problems to a dermatologist, and 48 percent of clinicians said they would be comfortable prescribing medication based on the photos.
- Fifty-eight percent of consumers would use an at-home strep test, to which 43 percent of clinicians said they would feel comfortable prescribing medication.
- Approximately 65 percent of consumers report having at least one health app on their phones or tablets that they use a minimum of once a week, and 68 percent of clinicians said they would be willing to prescribe an mHealth app to a patient to help them manage a chronic disease.
- About half of clinicians said that digital visits, or e-visits, could replace more than 10 percent of in-office patient visits.
- While only 15 percent of clinicians currently offer telehealth services to patients with chronic conditions, 28 percent are considering adding e-visits and similar services.
- As far as coordinating care goes, 47 percent of consumers and 79 percent of clinicians believe mobile devices can help make the process more efficient.
- Sixty-five percent of consumers would be comfortable with their health data being shared among healthcare organizations if it meant improving care coordination, but only 30 percent of clinicians currently share patient data electronically outside of their practice.