Despite 93 percent of patients reporting satisfaction with the service and expertise provided at rural health providers, price transparency and wait times created difficulties for some patients.
Wipfli, a healthcare accounting and consulting firm, surveyed 1,045 people on their experiences with rural health providers, the company announced on March 31. Although a majority of respondents reported overall satisfaction, there were some issues.
- While only a quarter of patients looked at rural health providers' prices, almost 30 percent of those who did couldn't find any prices published.
- About 37 percent of patients experience longer wait times for treatment over the course of the pandemic.
- Thirty-six percent of respondents said they used telehealth, but only 30 percent said they prefer it to in-person visits.