FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 13, 2014
For more information, contact:
Abby Shields
Marketing Manager
Phone: (615) 297-6535
[email protected]
NASHVILLE, TN., (May 13, 2014)— A new study from Catalyst Healthcare Research (CHR) focuses on what American consumers want and expect when it comes to online versus traditional communication with their healthcare providers. According to the results from this national online survey, nine out of ten (93%) adults aged 21 and over said they would be likely to choose a doctor that offers email communication. Of that 93%, 1 in 4 said they would still choose that doctor even if there was a $25 fee per episode.
CHR is hosting a free, 60-minute webinar on May 29, 2014 from noon-1PM CDT to reveal and discuss the results of this new study, “What’s Reasonable?”
Dan Prince, founder and President of CHR, said, “It’s not surprising that consumers want digital access to things like test results and making a doctor’s appointment. The Internet is quick and convenient and it’s in the best interest of health systems, hospitals, and physician practices to embrace online options for their patients’ healthcare needs. As healthcare changes, it’s crucial that providers stay relevant.”
2014 is the second time that the “What’s Reasonable?” study has been conducted. From December 2013 to February 2014, 433 individuals were asked about what technological devices they currently own, how they use them, and their preferences about communication with healthcare providers.
Baby Boomers were very active online, in meeting both their healthcare and non-healthcare needs. About 8 in 10 (78%) Baby Boomer respondents use the Internet for banking or paying bills, and 65% of them use it for buying clothes and/or shoes. When it comes to their healthcare, a staggering 84% of them, more than in any other age bracket, use the Internet to get information about a medical condition or drug.
“Baby Boomers are and will continue to be a huge consumer of healthcare in the United States, so they are an important group of people to listen to when it comes to figuring out how providers and health systems can better serve patients,” Prince said. “In this new study, we are able to see how their views compare to other important groups, including the digital savvy ‘millennials’,” he added.
To register for the webinar and learn more about the results of the 2014 “What’s Reasonable?” survey, contact [email protected].
ABOUT CATALYST HEALTHCARE RESEARCH: Catalyst Healthcare Research is a CMS-approved HCAHPS survey vendor that provides mail and online surveying to help hospitals and other healthcare organizations understand, measure and improve the patient experience. CHR offers a range of survey programs and custom studies that enable healthcare clients to achieve Confident Change®. To learn more, visit www.catalysthcr.com.
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