The rise of the digitally inclined healthcare consumer in recent years has massively impacted the healthcare industry and how healthcare is delivered to patients. Physicians have also had an increased interest in using digital tools to improve patient care, further affecting healthcare.
Let’s review the characteristics of the digitally inclined healthcare consumer, how they are influencing the digital transformation of healthcare and what providers can do in response to this shift.
Who Is the Digitally Inclined Healthcare Consumer?
A digitally inclined healthcare consumer is a person who is comfortable using technology to manage their health and healthcare. This type of consumer is tech-savvy and uses digital tools like electronic health records to take control of their health and improve their healthcare outcomes. These consumers are well-versed in digital technologies used in other industries and want the same technological advancement in patient care. They value the availability of digital tools for healthcare and desire an end-to-end, personalized and connected consumer experience in healthcare.
What Does the Digitally Inclined Healthcare Consumer Want?
Digitally inclined consumers are interested in playing a more significant role in their care. They want digital tools like virtual care and universal electronic healthcare records (EHR) to help them better manage their health. They’re also willing to change to healthcare providers who offer more comprehensive digital health technologies.
These consumers also look to online reviews, quality ratings and comparison tools as they decide on their healthcare options. They want healthcare digital tools like telemedicine or virtual health and apps that allow them to check test results, locate new physicians, make appointments and get answers to their questions quickly and at times that are convenient for them.
An excellent example of these are the EHR tools managed by Epic. Epic is the number one ranked system by customers and over 90% of medical students and residents train on this system. Features like MyChart enable patients to access digital tools, such as messaging with their provider, scheduling appointments and managing care for their entire family from their digital devices.
To be successful, the digital transformation of healthcare needs to improve patient engagement, empowerment and satisfaction.
Who Is the Digitally Inclined Physician?
A 2022 survey by the American Medical Association (AMA) found that an increasing percentage of physicians are interested in digital health solutions. Compared to 85% in 2016, 93% of 2022 survey participants indicated they feel healthcare digital tools provide an advantage in patient care.
Furthermore, the doctors’ average number of digital tools rose from 2.2 in 2016 to 3.8 in 2022. Digital technology that promotes remote care saw the most significant increase. The percentage of physicians using telemedicine rose from 14% in 2016 to 80% in 2022. The percentage of respondents using remote monitoring devices grew from 12% in 2016 to 30% in 2022. These increases occurred across the board, regardless of the physicians’ gender, age or specialty.
Based on the AMA study, nearly every physician is digitally inclined to some extent.
What Does the Digitally Inclined Physician Want?
Several factors take on greater urgency as physicians consider further integrating digital technologies into their practices. According to the AMA study, the top consideration in adopting healthcare digital tools is improving work efficiency and clinical outcomes. Another factor was the ability to lower healthcare workers’ stress and burnout. Also of importance to physicians were:
- Liability coverage in using digital health tools
- Compatibility with their existing EHR system
- Patients’ data privacy
For doctors to incorporate digital tools for healthcare, they need to know that:
- The technology will work in their practice.
- They’ll get paid for using it.
- They won’t be held liable for its use.
Physicians also want tools that are designed and deployed in a way that promotes health equity.
Evaluating and Developing a Plan
A strategic roadmap is essential to meeting the needs of physicians and consumers. You should evaluate the current and desired state of your digital offerings to ensure your organization is keeping up with patient and physician expectations and planning for required capital investments for the future.
How Pointcore Can Help Engage Digitally Inclined Healthcare Consumers and Physicians
As health systems decide how to approach digitally inclined healthcare consumers and physicians, they need a partner they can trust. Pointcore provides technology services that numerous health systems depend on every day to improve and extend their digital patient experience. If you’re looking for a proven EHR system, we have a vast wealth of expertise in implementing Epic systems. We even provide third-party application integration and interface management.
Our services are designed to provide you with what you need. From identifying current state and opportunities with our strategic technology roadmap and advising on systems and augmenting your staff with managed services, Pointcore will support you through the continued digital transformation of healthcare. Or if you need healthcare consulting, we offer services for facilities in locations such as Missouri, Tennessee, Vermont, Texas, and Wichita City in Kansas.
Trust Your Technology Service
Needs to Pointcore
Pointcore will work with you to determine your operation’s needs and use our unique healthcare IT expertise to develop the best solution for your requirements. We deliver valuable, actionable insights that can inform your adoption of healthcare digital tools and create a digital plan for the future. Contact us today, and let us help you manage healthcare administration so you can focus on caring for your patients.
