Surveys Continue to Show Patients Want Better Experience in Healthcare

Two new surveys support what we’ve been seeing now for years: patients want a consumer experience in healthcare like they get in other areas of their lives.

The first survey from TailorMed, which was completed by 1,000 U.S. adults, reinforces these trends and demonstrates patients’ desire to engage digitally throughout the healthcare journey.  

Here are six takeaways from that survey:

1. 51% of patients say they are “very interested” in taking a more active role in their healthcare journey.
2. 38% said they’re motivated to take an active role within their healthcare journey when provided with an easy, convenient way to interact with their doctor’s office or pharmacy.
3. 34% are motivated because they believe their involvement will help improve their health and well-being.
4. 95% of surveyed patients place some level of importance on understanding their financial responsibility.
5. 73% of respondents have at least some interest in using mobile technology to find and enroll in financial assistance programs.
6. More than half (70%) of patients report some level of comfort using digital health tools.

In another survey, Redpoint Global found that 62% of patients expect online communications to match the in-person experience they have with their providers and insurance companies. 

According to the announcement from Redpoint Global, “Precisely half of consumers surveyed said they believe that using digital tools in healthcare can help them take better care of their health. Examples include receiving prescription reminders on a mobile app, or receiving personalized health recommendations based on medical history. More than half (57%) of consumers said they are using digital tools to engage with healthcare providers and health insurance plans more than they have previously. With the rise in digital engagement, healthcare consumers stressed there is still an expectation for personalized experiences. The majority of consumers (62%) said that they expect online communications from their healthcare insurer and provider to match the in-person experiences they receive in terms of relevance and consistency.”

One consistent theme in these studies is the interest in mobile solutions to manage healthcare. With most patients using smartphones today for other areas of their lives from dinner reservations to managing exercise routines, the appeal is clear. Creating mobile experiences that mirror the experience provided by other industries engages patients, especially when all the patient-facing tools are accessible.