By Jill Groark
It's no surprise that recent data show patients have increased their Internet use to take a more active role in their health care. But exactly where online are they spending their time?
Patients are using the Web to research diagnoses and treatments; to store personal health data via sites such as Google Health; and to discuss their issues on health-centered social networking sites such as patientslikeme.com. Patients are also expressing a desire to use e-mail and online services to schedule appointments and obtain test results.
Let's take a look at some recent statistics related to these issues:
- In the latest Vital Signs, The Impact of E-Health on Patients and Physicians series (2003), the Boston Consulting Group reported that about 80 percent of all patients search online for information about health care. (2)
- Nearly 80 percent of consumers are interested in gaining access through their doctor to an integrated medical record that combines information about all of their test results, doctor visits and hospital stays. (1)
- Three out of four consumers want physicians to provide online services to schedule appointments, exchange e-mail, get test results and access medical records. (1)
- Three-quarters say the quality of the medical care they receive would improve if they had access to more information about the success of different treatment options. (1)
- Approximately one-third indicate that quality would improve if they knew the full price of the health care services they receive, not just what they pay. (1)
This increased desire for and use of information to make more informed health care decisions has led to what some call "consumerism." This year, expect to see more patients using the Internet to question doctors on diagnoses or compare costs and quality of treatment options.
What can your organization do to meet this growing trend?
- Invest in your Web site this year. Whether it's posting profiles of physicians and your services or using e-mail to remind patients of their appointments, now is the time to use your Web presence to the fullest. Your patients are expecting you to.
- Check out the sites your patients use. Browsing WebMD or patientslikeme.com will give you a quick snapshot of what information patients seek about their health. And if you find helpful online resources, have staff mention them to patients, including the non-credible sites you find.
What are you and your office doing to accommodate or set expectations around these issues? Tell us in the comments.
Jill Groark is MGMA's market research manager.
Sources:
1. O'Dell, Gene J. "2009 AHA Environmental Scan." Hospitals & Health Networks December 2008. Web.
2. American Medical Association (AMA) Council on Long Range Planning and Development. Health Care Trends 2008. American Medical Association: 2008
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