Man Having Video Chat With Doctor

Last year Health Tech Insider reported on the Salesforce 2015 State of the Connected Patient Report. Well, it’s 2016 and a new report is out, with a slightly different name. We took at look at the Salesforce 2016 Connected Patient Report. Once again, Salesforce commissioned Harris Poll to run the online study from June 8-10, 2016. This survey was conducted online within the United States among 2,025 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,736 have health insurance and a primary care doctor.

Among the key findings of this year’s poll: 62 percent of U.S. adults would be open to virtual care treatments such as a video conference call for non-urgent matters. Also, 78 percent of the polled patients who own a wearable would want their doctors to have access to data created by the device. In addition, 59 percent (including 70 percent of 18 to 34-year-olds) “would choose a primary care physician who offers a patient mobile app (allowing patients to make appointments, see bills, view health data, etc.) over one that does not.” While the numbers have not changed dramatically since last year when 71 percent of millennials reported interest in physicians who use mobile apps, the depth of the survey and the interest in virtual healthcare show an increase in knowledge and acceptance of Health Tech.

“Patients today are choosing their providers, in part, based on how well they use technology to communicate with them and manage their health,” said Joshua Newman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, GM, Salesforce Healthcare and Life Sciences. “Care providers who build deeper patient relationships through care-from-anywhere options, the use of wearables and better communications post-discharge, will be in a strong position to be successful today — and into the future.” You can see the full 2016 Salesforce Connected Patient Report here.