When you think of Texas, you might think of wide open spaces, cowboys, and longhorn cattle. If you think about technology, you might think of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, but you probably would not expect the population in general to embrace new technology. A new study indicates that you might be wrong.
The Texas Association of Business is the state’s chamber of commerce, and the organization recently commissioned a study of the state residents’ attitudes about telemedicine. The rural nature of many parts of the state have a big impact on people’s views on healthcare. For example, the study found that nearly one in four Texans have to drive at least 30 minutes to get to a doctor’s office. Nearly that many report that they have to wait at least two weeks before they can see their doctor. And more than half of those surveyed indicated that they believe that access to healthcare has become worse, not better.
As a result, it may not be a surprise to learn that 70% of the respondents favor telemedicine to diagnose common medical conditions, such as sinus infections or rashes. In a separate survey, more than three out of four business owners favored telemedicine as well.
Being able to consult a healthcare professional remotely can save both the patient and the physician time and money. As these services become more widely available, expect to see consumer demand to help drive adoption of these convenient alternatives.
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