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Wearables-Provider-Research_iTriage November 2015
1. Key findings from an independent survey
of providers’ use of new technologies
November 2015
Are Providers Actually
Putting Wearables, Remote
Monitoring and Video
Consults Into Practice?
2. 2 | Are Providers Actually Putting Wearables, Remote Monitoring and Video Consults Into Practice? DECEMBER 2015
Introduction
New technologies continue to increase the tools providers can use to support their practice
and improve patient care. Digital channels like secure email, texting, patient portals and
videoconferencing are available to better communicate with and educate patients. Plus, it’s
easier than ever to gather patient health data through consumer wearables and FDA-approved
remote-monitoring devices.
One can hardly tune in to healthcare news or attend an industry conference without being
inundated with the emergence of these technologies, the pros and cons of using them, and how
they will benefit population health and value-based care strategies. But are doctors actually
employing these technologies in their practice, using them to communicate with patients, or
gather health data? If so, is it only the urban and suburban physicians? Are younger clinicians
more apt to adopt new tech?
This study, commissioned by iTriage®
, quantifies providers’ adoption of emerging technologies
and identifies the benefits and possible drawbacks of these new tools.
Highlights
+ Most providers say patient-facing technologies (patient portals and secure email) are very
important to their strategic direction
+ Almost twice as many providers that prescribed remote patient monitoring devices last
year, plan to prescribe them next year
+ Although video consults are still in the earliest phases of adoption, a quarter of providers
plan to roll out this technology within two years
+ The majority of providers believe wearables will have a positive impact on population
health
+ Providers working within accountable care organizations (ACOs) are much more likely to
embrace the new technologies
Detailed Findings
To assess providers’ adoption of emerging technologies and attempt to identify the benefits
and possible drawbacks of these new tools, iTriage asked a series of questions within four
categories:
1. Patient-Facing Technology
2. Remote Patient Monitoring
3. Video Visits
4. Wearables
Interestingly, there was not a significant disparity between age groups of clinicians and little
variance based on urban versus rural settings. However, the results highlighted vastly different
technology adoption and belief of its benefits among providers who work within ACOs.
Scope/Research
Methodology
Respondents qualified for the survey
if they (1) were a physician, nurse
practitioner or physician’s assistant,
(2) had been practicing medicine for
one year or more, and (3) worked full-
time for a medical practice that had
implemented an Electronic Health
Records (EHR) system.
iTriage commissioned Lawless
Research to design and conduct a
study of healthcare providers’ use
of technology. Between Aug. 11
and Aug. 14, 2015, 302 providers
completed the 10-minute online
survey. The survey was hosted by
Qualtrics®
and Research Now®
provided respondents from their
online panel.
3. 3 | Are Providers Actually Putting Wearables, Remote Monitoring and Video Consults Into Practice? DECEMBER 2015
Patient-Facing Technology
To paint a general picture of provider tech adoption, the study looked at the overall use and opinions of patient-facing technology. For the
purpose of this study, patient-facing technologies were defined as electronic interfaces that medical practices employ to communicate with their
patients. Their purpose is to (1) simplify and automate information sharing and gathering and (2) allow providers and patients to interact via
email, texting and videoconferencing. Examples include EHRs, patient portals, secure email, digital health education material and intake forms,
online appointment booking and bill pay, secure texting, video consultation, and remote monitoring.
+ FINDING: Patient portals and secure email are the most common patient-facing technologies adopted among practices.
• Roughly half of respondents reported that their practices have a patient portal (59%) or secure email (55%)
• 42% provide digital health education material and 41% offer online appointment booking
What patient-facing technologies or services have you adopted in your practice? Choose all that apply.
Electronic Health Records* 100%
Patient portal 59%
Secure email 55%
Digital health education material 42%
Online appointment booking 41%
Online bill pay 38%
Digital intake forms 26%
Secure texting 15%
Video consultation 15%
Remote monitoring 13%
* Working for a practice that had implemented an EHR was a qualification for the survey.
4. 4 | Are Providers Actually Putting Wearables, Remote Monitoring and Video Consults Into Practice? DECEMBER 2015
+ FINDING: In general, practices have adopted an average of four patient-facing technologies.
• But 21% of practices have adopted six to nine
ACO NOTE
Practices working with ACOs use more patient-facing technologies.
+ FINDING:
RURAL NOTE
Providers in rural areas place less importance on patient-facing technologies. Only 41% of rural providers say the technologies are extremely or
very important vs. 68% of urban practices and 62% of suburban practices.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10%
16%
18%
20%
15%
6%
8%
4%
3%
Number of patient-facing technologies adopted:
21% of practices have adopted 6 to 9
40%of practices working with ACOs use six or more
patient-facing technologies vs. only 15% of providers not
working with ACOs.
62%of practices say that patient-facing
technologies are extremely or very important
to their group’s strategic direction.
5. 5 | Are Providers Actually Putting Wearables, Remote Monitoring and Video Consults Into Practice? DECEMBER 2015
Remote Patient Monitoring
Remote patient monitoring includes mobile medical devices providers prescribe for patients to use at home that transmit results to the practice
using a smartphone or computer. These devices have FDA approval and include blood pressure cuffs, weight scales, heart monitors and
glucometers.
+ FINDING: More than a fourth (26%) of providers are using remote patient monitoring devices.
26%of providers are
using remote patient
monitoring devices.
6. 6 | Are Providers Actually Putting Wearables, Remote Monitoring and Video Consults Into Practice? DECEMBER 2015
+ FINDING: Glucometers are the most commonly prescribed remote patient monitoring device.
What remote monitoring devices are your patients using? Choose all that apply.
Glucometer 73%
Heart monitor 63%
Blood pressure cuff 61%
Weight scales 46%
Other 9%
+ FINDING:
+ FINDING:
+ FINDING: At 86%, chronic disease management is the top reason providers will prescribe remote patient monitoring devices in the next 12
months, with preventive health a distant second at 56%.
For what purposes would you prescribe remote monitoring devices? Choose all that apply.
Chronic disease management 86%
Preventive health 56%
Post-op care management or post-discharge care 44%
Other 1%
90%of providers who are currently using remote patient
monitoring devices plan to continue using them in the future,
47% are likely to use them in the next year.
83%of providers agree that remote patient monitoring
can positively impact adherence to treatment plans and
82% are confident in the accuracy of data from the devices.
7. 7 | Are Providers Actually Putting Wearables, Remote Monitoring and Video Consults Into Practice? DECEMBER 2015
Video Visits
Video visits, also often called telemedicine, are a very hot topic in healthcare media. They are used to remotely diagnose or treat patients by
means of video conferencing on a smartphone or computer. This technology is still in its infancy in terms of industry acceptance and adoption.
+ FINDING: Currently, 15% of providers’ practices offer video visits; however nearly a third (29%) have no plans to adopt this technology.
ACO NOTE:
Practices working with ACOs adopt video visits at a higher rate: 33% have adopted video consultation or plan to within a year vs. 20% of
practices not working with an ACO.
+ FINDING: The top ranked benefit of video visits is increased access to care for patients.
What do you see as the most important potential benefits of video visits? Choose all that apply.
Increase access to care for patients 70%
Better care for remote patients 60%
Improve experience for patients 44%
Improve outcomes 42%
Better work-life balance 31%
Retain existing patients 25%
Earn more income 17%
Don’t know 4%
Other 2%
None of the above 1%
8. 8 | Are Providers Actually Putting Wearables, Remote Monitoring and Video Consults Into Practice? DECEMBER 2015
+ FINDING: 54% of providers say video visits are most appropriate when patients have mobility constraints or live in remote areas; 50% see
them being used for managing chronic conditions.
• 58% of nurse practitioners say video consultation would be helpful for medication management (vs. 39% of physicians and 34% of
physician assistants)
• 41% of NPs and PAs say video consultation would be useful for post-surgical follow-up or discharge management (vs. 21% of physicians)
Within your practice, what types of cases would be most appropriate for video visits? Choose all that apply.
When patients have mobility constraints or live in remote areas 54%
Chronic condition management 50%
Medication management 44%
After hours care 40%
Consulting with a specialist while patients are in your office 38%
Home health care 33%
Post-surgical follow-up or post-hospital discharge management 31%
Minor urgent care 30%
Triage 30%
Birth control counseling 21%
Concierge care for direct pay patients 15%
Other 2%
Don’t know 2%
None of the above 2%
+ FINDING: Providers cite two main concerns about video visits: inappropriate use by patients (53%) and health information security (47%).
+ FINDING:
+ FINDING: Three-fourths of providers who are using video visits are satisfied with the effectiveness, but only two-thirds are likely to increase
their use in the next year.
41%of providers are of providers are concerned about
reimbursement and quality of care for video visits.
Among practices that offer video visits, 51%use it at least
once a month; however, 30% say they never use them.
9. 9 | Are Providers Actually Putting Wearables, Remote Monitoring and Video Consults Into Practice? DECEMBER 2015
Wearables
Wearables are all the rage in the consumer market and include health and fitness devices such as fitness bands, smart watches, patches and
sensor-laden clothing to track biometrics. Wearables typically have wireless network connections to smartphones, tablets and computers
that allow collection and transmission of data. Some brand name examples are Fitbit®
, Jawbone®
and Nike®
FuelBandTM
. Overall, respondents
thought wearable technology had the potential to positively impact population health — many cited the devices’ ability to make consumers more
aware of their activity levels, engage them in their health and in healthy behaviors. Although hugely popular with a certain subset of consumers
who tend to be health conscience already, several respondents made remarks about wearables not being at a price point that makes the devices
readily available to all their patient demographics, especially those in need of better health and exercise regimens.
+ FINDING: Almost half of providers (47%) personally use a wearable. This usage did not vary by age or gender. Most of them (89%) were
satisfied with the data provided by their device and were more likely to recommend wearables to their patients.
Provider used a wearable for personal use in the past year:
Yes 47%
No 53%
10. 10 | Are Providers Actually Putting Wearables, Remote Monitoring and Video Consults Into Practice? DECEMBER 2015
+ FINDING: Providers and patients are discussing the use of health and fitness wearables.
+ FINDING:
+ FINDING: Asking patients about wearables is more common among primary care providers (74% of PCPs vs. 51% of specialists) and of
clinicians who did recommend them, preventive health is the primary reason to do so.
+ FINDING:
+ FINDING: Overall, 65% of providers agree that the growing use of wearables will have a positive impact on population health.
• Providers who personally use wearables have a stronger belief they will improve population health: 78% strongly or somewhat agree vs.
55% of those who do not use wearables.
+ FINDING: 68% of providers are somewhat, very or extremely confident in the accuracy of data from wearable devices, but they have less
confidence in wearable data than in remote monitoring data.
Provider recommended the use of a wearable
Provider asked patients about their use of wearables
Patient provided data collected from a wearable
Patient asked provider to recommend a wearable
64%
31%
29%
29%
Providers and patients are discussing wearables:
57%of providers added the data to their patients’
record, when patients provided their wearable’s data.
7 in 10 providers who are likely to prescribe wearables are confident that
patients will be willing to use them and share the data with their provider.
Providers who personally use wearables are more confident: 80%.
Remote patient monitoring devices
Wearables
Confidence in accuracy of data:
Extremely or very confident Somewhat confident Slightly or not at all confident
43%39%18%
30%38%32%
