Telehealth market poised for growth, but use remains low

From Modern Healthcare:

The vast majority of U.S. patients are open to using telehealth solutions, but only a fraction have received care virtually, according to a new survey.

The Advisory Board Co.’s Virtual Visits Consumer Choice Survey reported more than three-quarters of nearly 5,000 respondents would see a doctor virtually, while less than 20% already have used telehealth solutions. The results suggest that the healthcare industry has yet to meet consumer interest in virtual care, researchers said.

“Direct-to-consumer virtual specialty and chronic care are largely untapped frontiers,” Emily Zuehlke, a consultant for the Advisory Board’s Market Innovation Center, said in a statement. “As consumers increasingly shop for convenient, affordable healthcare—and as payers’ interest in low-cost access continues to grow—this survey suggests that consumers are likely to reward those who offer virtual visits for specialty and chronic care.”