ORLANDO, FL, Feb. 25, 2008 — A new survey from the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, released today at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Annual Conference, found that consumers increasingly want access to technology and services that they are currently not receiving from their health care providers.
Greater access to medical information online is among the services in high demand. Nearly 80 percent of health care consumers are interested in having their physicians provide online access to medical records and test results; as many as one-fourth (26 percent) are willing to pay extra for these additional services.
More than 93 percent of consumers surveyed say they are not well prepared for future health care costs, making sensitivity to the cost for care increasingly important. Consumers are interested in using online tools to shop around to compare prices and the quality of care provided by their health care providers. They are interested in visiting physician (65 percent) and hospital (62 percent) Web sites to research the price of services offered. Consumers surveyed are also interested in visiting physician (67 percent) and hospital (64 percent) Web sites to research the quality of care offered.
The “2008 Survey of Health Care Consumers,” a representative poll of more than 3,000 Americans between the ages of 18 and 75, was conducted by theDeloitte Center
Today’s health care consumers are already seeking care in non-conventional settings. In the last 24 months, 21 percent have purchased prescription medication online or by mail; 37 percent say they might do so in the future. Sixteen percent have already used a retail clinic, and 34 percent say they might do so in the future.
Among other survey’s findings:
Greater access to medical information online is among the services in high demand. Nearly 80 percent of health care consumers are interested in having their physicians provide online access to medical records and test results; as many as one-fourth (26 percent) are willing to pay extra for these additional services.
More than 93 percent of consumers surveyed say they are not well prepared for future health care costs, making sensitivity to the cost for care increasingly important. Consumers are interested in using online tools to shop around to compare prices and the quality of care provided by their health care providers. They are interested in visiting physician (65 percent) and hospital (62 percent) Web sites to research the price of services offered. Consumers surveyed are also interested in visiting physician (67 percent) and hospital (64 percent) Web sites to research the quality of care offered.
The “2008 Survey of Health Care Consumers,” a representative poll of more than 3,000 Americans between the ages of 18 and 75, was conducted by the
Today’s health care consumers are already seeking care in non-conventional settings. In the last 24 months, 21 percent have purchased prescription medication online or by mail; 37 percent say they might do so in the future. Sixteen percent have already used a retail clinic, and 34 percent say they might do so in the future.
Among other survey’s findings:
- 3 out of 4 of consumers want their physicians to provide online access to an integrated medical record; 1 in 4 would pay more for this service
- More than 70 percent of consumers want their hospitals to provide online access to their medical record and test results; 1 in 4 would pay more for this service
- 1 in 4 consumers say they maintain some kind of personal health record; 46 percent would be willing to use a software program or Web site to create a personal health record
- 83 percent of consumers are interested in same-day appointments with their physicians; 1 in 4 (26 percent) would pay more for this service
- Nearly 3 out of 4 want physicians to provide online services to schedule appointments; 18 percent would pay more for this service
- 3 out of 4 of consumers are interested in e-mail access to their doctors; nearly 1 in 4 would pay more for this service
- 88 percent of consumers want expanded use of in-home monitoring devices and online tools that would reduce the need for visits and allow individuals to be more active in their care
In addition, the survey revealed the consumer health care market is not homogenous; key distinctions exist within different groups. An analysis of the data found that respondents fell into six discrete segments:
· “Content and compliant” consumers (29 percent) tend to prefer traditional approaches to care and accept what doctors recommend.
· “Sick and savvy” consumers (24 percent) tend to have at least one or more chronic condition and often prefer relying on themselves more than their doctors when making care-related decisions.
· “Online and onboard” consumers (8 percent) are high users of the health care system who use online tools and value-added services more than any other segment.
· “Shop and save” consumers (2 percent) are prone to switching doctors, treatments and health plans, and make changes to their insurance more often than the other segments and are most sensitive to prices of health care services.
· “Out and about” consumers (9 percent) use alternative approaches to treatment, consult alternative health care practitioners and substitute alternative therapies for prescription medications more than the other segments.
· “Casual and cautious” consumers (28 percent) tend to be younger and are healthier than the other segments, however are less insured and report being more financially unprepared for their future health care costs than the others.
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