Most Americans Using Internet for Health Care Questions

Most Americans Using Internet for Health Care Questions in General Healthcare

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention conducted the National Health Interview Survey to collect data on the use of health information technology. The survey found that 51 percent of adults between the ages of 18-64 used the Web to find health information over the past year.

But the use of the Internet was mostly limited to research. According to the survey, just three percent of adults used an online chat group to learn about health topics and only five percent emailed a health care provider.

When it comes to using the Internet to manage personal health care, not many take advantage — only six percent requested a prescription to be refilled over the Internet and less than three percent made an appointment online.

So, we have to ask: does this survey show that health care providers aren’t meeting the demand of patients online?

The industry doesn’t think so. Health providers say they feel that using the Internet lacks privacy measures. Also, many are unsure how to bill for time spent answering emails. But to keep patients and remain competitive, it’s hard to see how doctors and hospitals can avoid adapting to the changes and start using health information technology to provide more effective and efficient care. 

By the way, more people are using the Internet these days for buying health insurance as well. Last year, over a million consumers used GoHealthInsurance.com to shop for a plan.

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