What do doctors really think of telemedicine?
According to the findings of a new survey conducted recently during the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine conference, while the presence of telemedicine is growing throughout practices across the country, there may not be enough financial incentive at the moment for doctors to embrace telemedicine more enthusiastically.
Based on the data gleaned from the survey, here’s what doctors may be thinking when it comes to telemedicine:
- Only 19% of healthcare practitioners are in a position to actually get paid for offering telemedicine services.
- 56% say telemedicine technology is ahead of the current state medical board guidelines
- 67% are either using telemedicine to provide services now or will in the near future
- 38% said they are offering care through phone, video, or web cam visits
- 68% say telemedicine is best used for follow-up visits, not initial consultations
The poll consisted of 754 healthcare practitioners, 78% of whom are physicians, MedCityNews confirms.
Nick Jacobs, a board member of AIHM, commented on the study’s findings and brought attention to the need for greater reimbursement for telemedicine usage among healthcare practitioners: “When we have technology that can drive down the cost of health, and help improve patient outcomes, providers need to be reimbursed.”
