Telehealth Statistics: Latest Trends and Forecasts

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Telehealth statistics demonstrate that patients choose digital health 38 times more often than in pre-pandemic times, and both patients and providers are satisfied with this choice.

Traditional healthcare is witnessing a paradigm shift as digital transformation gives patients and doctors even in the most distant areas access to high-quality and 24/7 available healthcare.

Record-breaking levels of implementation by healthcare organizations of small and big sizes indicate that the demand for telehealth services will only grow in the near future.

In today’s blog, we will discuss the main telehealth statistics and trends for recent years and beyond. Let’s dive in!

What is Telehealth?

While telehealth isn’t a new idea, the technology has drastically expanded its capabilities. Some years ago, it was associated only with urgent conditions when a doctor gave medical advice via phone, or jotted down a few notes. Today, it provides a secure system for video and phone appointments, access to patient portals and health records, and remote collaboration among clinicians.

Telemedicine Statistics on 2023

The telemedicine market has experienced a significant expansion since its inception in the 2000s. In 2022, the market was valued at $83.5 billion, and it is projected to continue its upward trajectory, hitting the number of $455.3 billion by 2030.

Here are more statistics on telehealth:

International Telehealth Usage Statistics

Telemedicine services were used by 33% of patients in the United States in 2019.
The age group that makes up the largest proportion of telemedicine users is 25-44 years old.
Telemedicine usage saw a remarkable surge of 70-80% in 2020, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The use of telemedicine for mental healthcare has experienced a 50% increase since 2018.

Telehealth Statistics by Health Service

Telehealth has become an increasingly popular option for mental health services. According to a report by FAIR Health, the use of telehealth for mental health services increased by 2985% from 2019 to 2020.
According to a survey by the American Academy of Dermatology, 75% of dermatologists had used telemedicine in 2020, compared to just 2% in 2019.
A report by McKinsey & Company found that the number of primary care telehealth visits increased by 50% during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Telehealth Satisfaction Statistics

According to a survey conducted in 2018, 68% of healthcare providers reported using telemedicine as a means of enhancing patient access to care.
Over 80% of people prefer telemedicine services over traditional in-person visits.
According to McKinsey, 55% of patients believe that they receive a higher quality of care through telehealth as compared to in-office visits.
BMC Health Services Research reports that 80% of patients who receive primary care through telemedicine on a regular basis are consistently satisfied with the level and quality of care they receive.
A report by Sage Growth Partners states that over 50% of healthcare providers acknowledge the role of telemedicine in helping patients avoid emergency room visits.

The Cost of Telehealth

Telemedicine has demonstrated a positive impact on healthcare costs. By utilizing telemedicine services, patients can avoid costly and unnecessary emergency room visits, which often result in higher medical expenses. Additionally, telemedicine can help healthcare providers reduce overhead costs associated with maintaining physical facilities and staffing requirements. Here are some telehealth stats to prove this:

According to mHealth Intelligence, the implementation of a virtual healthcare platform at Frederick Memorial Hospital in Maryland in 2016 led to a 50% reduction in the cost of patient care.
A study by the FCC found that remote patient monitoring in a diabetes patient cohort led to improved patient outcomes and cost savings for patients of approximately $3,855 per patient per year.
The FCC estimates that the adoption of telehealth technologies has the potential to save the U.S. healthcare industry a staggering $305 billion per year.

Latest Trends in Telehealth

#1 IoT and IoMT

IoMT devices, often referred to as healthcare IoT, are a type of technology that allows medical devices to securely communicate via the Internet for fast and accurate analysis of medical data.

It can be undeniably named one of the most popular trends in telehealth industry, witnessed by overall market growth from $41 billion in 2017 to $158 billion in 2022, according to Deloitte.

IoMT encompasses a variety of wearable devices from smartwatches to blood glucose monitors, EKG machines, and advanced medical imaging systems like MRI machines and CT scanners. While smartwatches and wearable technology can monitor heart rate, sleep patterns, activity levels, and even oxygen saturation to detect potential health issues or irregularities at an early stage, remote patient monitoring devices transmit real-time data to healthcare providers to facilitate early detection of complications and ensure timely interventions, preventing unnecessary hospitalizations and emergency room visits.

#2 Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Big Data

The advancement of AI in the telehealth industry is rapidly gaining momentum. Within this sector, AI serves as an umbrella term encompassing various technologies such as machine learning and big data that enable machines to perceive, learn, analyze information, and take action. Here are some of the AI telehealth trends:

Telemonitoring

Artificial intelligence is already extensively employed to remotely monitor patients' health and track vital indicators like blood pressure, pulse rate, weight, and respiratory levels. Machine learning classification models analyze data transmitted directly from devices, enabling the identification of potential risks for certain conditions and facilitating the need for further monitoring.

Diagnostics

Big data expedites the standardization and quantification of medical data, enhancing the accuracy of diagnoses and mitigating the risk of misdiagnosis. A noteworthy example is Enlitic, which utilizes deep learning tools to streamline radiology diagnosis. By analyzing unstructured medical data such as blood tests, EKGs, and radiology images, Enlitic gives telehealth providers valuable insights into patients' health conditions.

Hospital Visits

While telemedicine applications significantly reduce the need for in-person hospital visits, there are instances where such visits remain essential. AI technology plays a vital role in this regard by allowing patients to schedule appointments online and sending them reminders when the time approaches. Furthermore, AI informs hospital staff members about the influx of patients, prioritizes high-risk cases, and assists in bed assignments, streamlining administrative processes.

#3 AR and VR

The era when AR and VR were solely associated with the gaming industry has long passed. The innovative technology became popular telehealth trends and is now extensively employed in various fields such as physical therapy, medical training, and post-traumatic stress treatment.

For example, VR is employed to plan treatment sequences and visualize potential outcomes in aesthetic medicine and orthodontic procedures. In remote areas where telemedicine is predominant, these technologies enable patients to perform self-diagnostics and receive guided self-treatment. Additionally, AR assists patients in locating nearby hospitals in unfamiliar territories, proving invaluable during emergencies.

Surgeons also utilize VR and AR solutions to examine organs or explore 3D models of intricate surgical procedures prior to commencing operations. According to the Harvard Business Review Study, the usage of the technologies boosted surgeons’ productivity by 230% compared to conventionally trained medical professionals.

#4 HL7

Health Level Seven International is a framework of standards, formats, and definitions designed to facilitate the exchange and advancement of EHRs.

By adhering to HL7 standards, medical professionals and IT providers ensure compatibility and interoperability across diverse systems and applications. This enables seamless sharing of critical information, facilitates efficient communication between healthcare professionals, and enhances the overall quality of patient care.

Moreover, HL7's contributions extend beyond EHRs. Their standards provide a foundation for various aspects of healthcare IT, including decision support systems that assist medical professionals in making informed clinical judgments, product labels for prescription medications to ensure accurate and understandable information for patients, and clinical genomics, where data standards enable effective analysis and interpretation of genetic information.

#5 EHR-Embedded Solutions

An embedded EHR tool is for sure one of the most widespread trends in telehealth. In many countries, healthcare systems are struggling with mistakes and omissions in hospital records. As a result, medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the US.

Electronic health records embedded into hospital software can solve this problem. They present a unified and secure single system for storing, updating, and swiftly retrieving data. Such systems offer numerous benefits, including error prevention, enhanced communication, personalized patient experience, and expedited and precise diagnoses.

#7 Better Data Security

Cyber attacks still remain a top industry risk so it’s out of the question that security dictates the future of telehealth. 21 million people were affected by 225 hacking-related incidents in the timespan from January to June 2021, according to Breach reports to the Office for Civil Rights. Such incidents regularly happen with healthcare services and involve stealing sensitive patient data to demand payment from healthcare providers for retrieving stolen information.

Traditional methods of storing and transferring medical information are prone to breaches and unauthorized access. However, by employing blockchain technology, healthcare organizations can securely encrypt and store patient data in a distributed ledger. Such a decentralized structure enhances data integrity and confidentiality, significantly reducing the risk of data breaches and unauthorized tampering. Patients can have greater confidence that their personal health information remains private and secure.

#8 Patient Education Portals

Patient literacy and knowledge about their health conditions and medical information leaves a lot to be desired, making patient education portals a telehealth trend in healthcare.

According to a survey conducted by the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) in 2020, approximately 72% of healthcare organizations in the United States had implemented patient education portals, indicating a widespread adoption of this technology.

A patient portal is a secure online website managed by a healthcare provider that gives patients 24/7 access to their personal medical data, alongside a vast repository of articles, videos, infographics, and other educational materials for patients to learn about their specific health conditions, procedures, medications, and preventive measures.

For example, the American Heart Association runs an education portal focused on heart health. It offers resources on heart disease prevention, healthy lifestyle choices, understanding heart conditions, and managing risk factors. The portal includes videos, articles, interactive tools, and real-life stories to educate and empower patients.

#9 Home Fitness Programs

The home fitness industry is booming, giving people access to professional training from the comfort of their homes. According to the statistics, the home fitness market in the US is valued at $11.3 billion and is growing year on year.

During the last few years, there has been a focus shift from high-intensity activity to low-intensity cardio. This means that walking, yoga, and pilates are becoming more and more popular, alongside self-care. A lot of people take up exercise for mental health reasons. 43% of Gen Z representatives name mental health as a top reason for staying active in a survey.

Here are some of the most popular home fitness apps, as based on various ratings:

#10 Focus on Mental Health

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of outpatient visits related to mental health and substance use, with this trend being particularly pronounced in telehealth visits. From March to August 2021, nearly 39% of telehealth outpatient visits were primarily for addressing mental health or substance use conditions, which is a substantial increase from 24% one year earlier and 11% two years earlier.

This data highlights the growing importance of telehealth as a means of providing accessible and effective mental health disorders and substance use care. Additionally, it indicates a shift in how individuals are seeking treatment for these conditions, with more people turning to telehealth options for convenience and flexibility, so it can be for sure named one of the current telehealth trends.

Forecasts for the Future of Telehealth

Telehealth has experienced significant growth in recent years, and it is expected to continue expanding in the future. Here are some telehealth forecasts:

Conclusion

As technology continues to advance and telemedicine services become more widely available, we can expect to see even greater growth in the industry. The telehealth market forecast presents an exciting opportunity for healthcare providers and patients alike, as telemedicine has already revolutionized the way we approach healthcare delivery.

If you’re still thinking about developing a telemedicine app for your practice or integrating virtual care into the existing one, feel free to contact inVerita.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages and disadvantages of telehealth?

Telehealth offers many benefits, such as improved access to care, cost-effectiveness, and convenience. However, in some cases, video communication can’t substitute doctor in person as it allows limited physical examination.

Among which age group is telehealth the most popular?

According to telehealth statistics, the largest proportion of virtual care users is 25-44 years old.

What is the average duration of a telehealth visit?

The average telehealth visit duration varies depending on the type of consultation and the healthcare provider. However, on average, telehealth visits tend to last between 15 to 30 minutes.

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