A large majority of U.S. consumers say they want to use technology to manage their health care, according to a survey by Accenture, FierceHealthIT reports (Hall, FierceHealthIT, 6/22).
The survey is based on an online poll of 1,100 U.S. residents conducted between March 30 and April 4 (Accenture release, 6/20).
Survey Findings
The survey found that 72% of respondents said they want to be able to book, cancel or change their physician appointment online.
Seventy-three percent of respondents said they prefer to use a mobile device to request refills of prescriptions, the study found.
The survey also found that:
- 90% of respondents said they prefer the Internet to other sources when accessing health information and education;
- 88% said they want to receive email reminders about preventive or follow-up care;
- 76% said they want the option of having email consultations with physicians;
- 48% said they want their physicians to manage their electronic health records; and
- 44% said they want to manage their own EHRs.
Thirty-three percent of respondents did not know if certain services like laboratory results, bill pay and electronic reminders were available to them online.
Although respondents generally seemed interested in using online tools for health management, 85% of survey respondents said they still want to have in-person interactions with their physicians when needed (FierceHealthIT, 6/22).