Impact of Telemedicine

Let’s explore some of the most remarkable statistics about telemedicine that demonstrate its impact on global healthcare.

Who uses telemedicine services?

1. 80% of people have used telemedicine at least once in their lives. According to a report by Rock Health, published in February 2023, four out of five people have used a telemedicine service at least once.

The same report found that in 2022, telemedicine adoption grew particularly among groups often underserved in healthcare.

For example, Rock Health reported:

A 12% increase in telemedicine use among people over 55 years old.

A 13% increase in telemedicine use among people living in rural areas.

2. 74% of people under 30 prefer teleconsultations over in-person visits

A report by GlobalMed found that nearly three-quarters of young people prefer the convenience and immediacy of teleconsultations over in-person visits. According to GlobalMed, saving time traveling to and from appointments and avoiding waiting in crowded waiting rooms are among the reasons young people favor such consultations.

3. 96% of patients with mental illnesses are satisfied with virtual mental health care

This statistic is a perfect demonstration that telemedicine is not new; it is a conclusion from an academic study published in July 2006!

The study found that patients with mental health issues undergoing telepsychiatric consultations showed significant improvements in specific mental health indicators. In contrast, those who attended in-person sessions did not exhibit changes.

Do people find telemedicine effective?

4. 55% of people believe they receive better care through teleconsultations

A McKinsey report from February 2022, based on a survey conducted the previous year, found that 55% of patients were “much more satisfied” with teleconsultations and telemedicine care compared to in-person care.

The same report revealed that:

60% of patients find telemedicine more convenient than in-person healthcare visits.

40% plan to continue using telemedicine post-COVID-19.

63% are interested in broader digital health solutions, such as online appointment scheduling and digitally-oriented health plans.

Interestingly, McKinsey also found that only 32% of clinicians believe telemedicine improves patient experience, and 36% agree that telemedicine services are more convenient than in-person visits.

5. 52.5% of clinicians believe they offer more effective treatment and follow-up via teleconsultations

In contrast to McKinsey’s findings, an article published on ResearchGate in January 2019 found that 52.5% of healthcare professionals believe teleconsultations are more effective for providing treatment and follow-ups with established patients.

While this article was published before the pandemic and more than three years before McKinsey’s report, the contrasting figures may provide insight into the future of telemedicine.

Are we moving toward a model where initial consultations are conducted in person, but long-term follow-ups are handled virtually?

6. Only 5% of virtual health appointments lead to the need for an in-person visit

If trends identified by the American Academy of Neurology during the peak of the first wave of the pandemic hold over the long term, the idea of in-person visits leading to long-term virtual care may not materialize.

The academy found that only 5% of telemedicine appointments identified a need for in-person consultation. The key is that this study examined only telemedicine appointments for children. So, if only 5% of what most would consider the most vulnerable patients were referred for in-person visits, could this percentage be even lower for the general population?

Telemedicine before and after COVID-19

7. Telemedicine adoption increased by 44% between 2015 and 2019

The same GlobalMed report, highlighting how many young people prefer telemedicine, also demonstrates that these services did not suddenly appear due to COVID-19.

On the contrary, the report identifies a 44% growth in telemedicine adoption between 2015 and 2019.

8. Before COVID-19, 37% of people had used telemedicine services

The American data analytics company J.D. Power, best known for its automotive industry data, found in a 2022 survey that 67% of people had used telemedicine services, compared to 37% who said they had done so during a similar survey conducted before the COVID-19 pandemic.

9. 27% of patients report feeling more comfortable with telemedicine after COVID-19

While the COVID-19 pandemic may not have led to the invention of telemedicine, it undoubtedly left many people with no choice about how to receive medical consultations.

According to a Doximity paper published in September 2020, the result is that over a quarter of patients feel more comfortable using telemedicine services than before the pandemic. Perhaps the only barrier was uncertainty about meeting someone online!

What do these statistics tell us about telemedicine?

One of the most remarkable things observed when reviewing various reports and studies is the vast diversity of findings and differing answers to the same questions.

This is likely indicative of the state of telemedicine as a concept. It is undoubtedly here to stay. However, most healthcare providers worldwide are still defining and deciding how to use it and whether its use should be driven by themselves, patients, circumstances, or a combination of the three.