As the demand for patient engagement grows, more and more U.S. physicians are offering services they now provide patients online, according to a survey from Accenture.
Since 2012, when Accenture conducted a similar survey, the number of physicians offering telemonitoring devices that enable patients to monitor their health has tripled from 8 percent to 24 percent.
Online services physicians now offer patients include:
- Access to online medical records (55 percent)
- Electronic reminders for follow-up care (55 percent)
- Ability to book appointments online (46 percent)
- Ability to view health-related information during consultation (36 percent); and
- Consultations through videoconferencing (14 percent)
Physicians' opinions about the outcomes of using online services have also changed. Now, many physicians believe allowing patients to update their own medical records:
- Increases patient engagement in their own health (82 percent)
- Improves patient satisfaction (81 percent)
- Boosts understanding of their health conditions (72 percent)
- Enhances patient and physician communication (71 percent); and
- Increases the accuracy of their medical records (60 percent)