Salesforce Survey: How Digitally Connected Is U.S. Healthcare?
For the average American, has the era of internet-based healthcare truly arrived? Just how digital are mainstream medical services in the United States? Many entrepreneurs and investors in China are eager to find answers to these questions. Salesforce recently conducted a relevant survey, and VCBeat has obtained its report, titled “2015 State of Connected Patient.” The report collected and analyzed responses from 1,700 adults who had health insurance and a primary care physician. The findings revealed that most Americans still rely on traditional methods to communicate with their doctors and manage their health. VCBeat has summarized the key points as follows.
Current Status of General Patient Satisfaction in the United States
Overall, medical patients in the United States are generally satisfied with the level of care provided by their primary care physicians. Among Americans surveyed, 86% currently have health insurance, and 76% believe that their doctors are sharing patients’ health records with one another to create a comprehensive view of their health status.
On average, Americans with health insurance visit their doctors three times a year and have 2.5 physicians separately overseeing different aspects of their health. Overall, Americans are most satisfied with scheduling appointments with their primary care physicians and managing billing, while they are least satisfied with obtaining preventive care information from their insurance providers.
How Do Patients and Healthcare Institutions Currently Communicate?
Today, most patients still rely on traditional communication methods to contact their healthcare providers. Scheduling appointments via telephone remains the most common method (76%), followed by in-person scheduling (25%). The most prevalent approach for accessing health data is also through in-person visits (39%).
However, the use of patient portals is on the rise when it comes to accessing health data: 21% of patients review their health information via these portals, compared to only 11% who do so by phone. As patients increasingly favor internet-enabled devices and daily life becomes more interconnected, new channels such as online healthcare platforms, email, and text messaging will continue to expand and thrive.
More AcceptableMillennials
Traditional communication channels remain highly popular among patients, but the next generation of patients is eager for innovation and breakthroughs in how they connect with providers and share information. This section focuses on U.S. Millennials (defined in this survey as individuals currently aged 18–34). Their opinions are critical, as their preferences and habits foreshadow the future expectations, consumption patterns, and delivery models of healthcare. We uncovered a surprising finding: 40% of Millennials stated that their primary care physician would definitely not recognize them if they happened to meet on the street.
Technology is improving people’s health management with its immense potential. Leveraging the power of the internet, healthcare institutions and insurance companies alike have the opportunity to drive positive transformation in healthcare. From wearable devices that encourage users to be more active during the day, to internet-based apps that enable real-time sharing of patient data, the future of healthcare is bright.
Among various technological products, internet-enabled devices and mobile health apps are what patients most desire to have integrated into their healthcare experience. Beyond internet-based tools, 61% of insured millennials are interested in using 3D-printed devices to support their health, while 57% express interest in cutting-edge high-tech solutions, such as ingestible pills capable of monitoring vital internal organs. It appears that the widespread adoption of digital healthcare relies heavily on millennials to drive its progress. Regarding the shift in healthcare consumption behaviors among millennials, VCBeat has previously recommended a more comprehensive research report for further reading.How Millennials Are Reshaping Healthcare。(To stay updated on the latest news about internet healthcare startups, please follow VCBeat’s WeChat official account: vcbeat. You are also welcome to engage with us on topics of interest, contact us via WeChat, and share your startup projects or related research insights.)