Patient Characteristics Associated With Choosing a Telemedicine Visit vs Office Visit With the Same Primary Care Clinicians | Health Disparities | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network

Patient Characteristics Associated With Choosing a Telemedicine Visit vs Office Visit With the Same Primary Care Clinicians | Health Disparities | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network

Older, richer patients more likely to choose in-person doctors' visits than telemedicine

A large study of more than 1.1 million patients in a Kaiser Permanente health care system in California finds certain characteristics — such as age — may predict which patients choose to visit their primary doctors via telemedicine versus in person. Looking at data between 2016-2018, researchers found that the vast majority of patients chose in-person visits, and that those older than 65 were much less likely than those in the 18-44 age group to choose telemedicine. Patients whose clinic had a paid parking structure versus free parking, and those who lived in residential areas with high internet access were also more likely to choose telemedicine. While the findings represent associations, they offer opportunities to reach vulnerable groups — especially those of lower socioeconomic status — the authors suggest.