Almost half of healthcare organizations use telemedicine, according to a new survey from HIMSS Analytics.
The survey results, based on responses from 335 providers, revealed the following:
- Of organizations that have adopted telemedicine, 42.5 percent said their primary motivation for doing so was to reduce gaps in care. About 16 percent said their main reason for adoption was to improve access to care.
- Of organizations that have adopted telemedicine, 57.8 percent use two-way video or webcam technology. Overall, 67.1 percent have at least considered investing in such technology.
- The top reported benefits of telemedicine included the ability to provide after-hours care (19.2 percent), the ability to provide remote patient consults (18.4 percent), access to outside specialized care (16.3 percent) and a reduction in inpatient admissions (8.2 percent).
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