10 survey findings: Telehealth continues to grow but patients still lack understanding into benefits

Key findings included:

1. 70 percent of providers reported the main reasons for considering telehealth was its ability to expand access or reach to patients, an increase from 40 percent in 2016.
2. Providers reported the top three use cases for telehealth are stroke (72 percent), behavioral health (41 percent) and intensive care (20 percent)
3. Providers reported patient resistance to telehealth declined from 15 percent in 2016 to 11 percent in 2017.
4. 58 percent of patients reported not having the opportunity to use telehealth, 31 percent reported being more comfortable with in-person visits and 10 percent had not heard of telehealth.
5. 40 percent of providers stated that program cost is a challenge, with 7 percent of patients specifically reporting not using telehealth because of cost.
6. 41 percent of providers rated reimbursement as the main barrier to implementation, and 8 percent of patients were unsure if it was covered by their insurance.
7. 59 percent of patients used telehealth for its time saving and convenience, 55 percent for faster service and shorter wait times, 43 percent for the cost savings due to less travel and 25 percent for the improved access to specialists.
8. 82 percent of patients report not using telehealth.
9. 46 percent of patients reported not using telehealth because they would find a video visit less comfortable than an in-person office visit, while 35 percent reported they would be just as comfortable.
10. 26 percent of patients reported being more comfortable talking to a psychiatrist by telehealth, while 74 percent preferred an in-person session.