Providing patients with online and mobile access to their health data can improve their satisfaction with health care organizations, according to a new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute, FierceHealthcare reports (Cheung, FierceHealthcare, 7/26).
The findings are part of a nationwide PwC survey of 6,000 consumers across several industries (Parmar, MedCity News, 7/27).
When asked about the types of services they value in health care organizations:
- 65% of surveyed consumers said they value the ability to exchange health data through online and mobile communication channels; and
- 53% said they value access to wireless Internet, other entertainment and a cafeteria (FierceHealthcare, 7/26).
When asked about the types of services they value from health insurers:
- 49% said they value the ability to receive information both in paper and online formats; and
- 43% said they value health plan websites that offer information about health care providers and insurance policies (PwC release, 7/26).
The report also noted that telehealth, mobile health, social media and retail clinics have led to increased consumer interest in "on-demand" health care (MedCity News, 7/27).