Telemedicine Use Influenced by Factors Such as Patient Age, Internet Access

Patients are less likely to schedule video- and telephone-based telehealth appointments if they’re 65 or older or live in neighborhoods with limited internet access, according to an AHRQ-funded study. Meanwhile, logistical barriers such as paid parking and long travel distances increased the use of telehealth visits. Researchers reviewed more than 2.1 million primary care appointments scheduled via online portals by more than 1.1 million patients in Northern California between 2016 and 2018. They found 86 percent of primary care appointments were scheduled as office visits. The remaining 14 percent were scheduled as telemedicine visits, with 7 percent of those conducted by video. While most patients still preferred in-person visits, researchers identified mobile telehealth services as an effective way of providing healthcare access to individuals facing barriers to in-person appointments. Access the abstract of the study published in JAMA Network Open.