Measuring the benefits of online health management
March 6, 2007
A new study done by Illumina for Cisco reports that 33% of Americans say that the Internet has changed the way they manage their healthcare. 62% report using online health tools and 56% reported an improvement in their health management due to personal technology. 45% want to be able to email their doctors, and a third want to access lab results and make appointments. However, few have the option to do so now.
Does this imply a greater demand for patient portals, PHRs and online tools than previous studies? Of this group studied, about a third either had a serious chronic condition themselves or have a family member who does. Half considered themselves informed healthcare consumers.
I don’t think this is a skewed sample of America. More people are online for themselves or family members than every. Providers and hospitals should work to meet this demand for online interaction.
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