Deloitte Publishes Healthcare Consumer Survey Findings
Deloitte published the results of its 2009 survey of more than 4,000 healthcare consumers, and the findings included some good news for the healthcare IT industry:
- 9% of consumers have an electronic personal health record (PHR), but 42% are interested in creating one connected online to their physicians. This leaves much room for growth for companies like Microsoft and Google which offer a PHR product.
- 55% want the ability to communicate with their doctor via email to exchange health information and get answers to questions, and 57% would be interested in scheduling appointments, buying prescriptions and completing other transactions online if their information is protected.
- 4 in 10 favor increasing government funding and incentives to support adoption of electronic medical records by doctors, hospitals and health plans.
However, consumers remain worried about the privacy and security of their personal health information, with 38% of those surveyed being "very concerned" as opposed to 24% of those who are not concerned at all. Sixty percent support government establishing standards "for how medical for how medical information is collected, stored, exchanged and protected."
The full survey findings can be downloaded here.
"Deloitte Survey Finds Healthy Consumer Demand For Electronic Health Records, Online Tools and Services", PRNewswire.com, April 6, 2009.
"2009 Survey of Health Care Consumers: Key Findings, Strategic Implications", Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, released April 2009.
