Parks Associates digital health research finds that 28% of U.S. broadband households have used some type of virtual care communication tool. This figure will increase to 65% by 2018 with virtual care doctor-patient video consultation revenues growing to $13.7 billion.
“All types of healthcare providers, from hospitals to physicians, need to embrace virtual care to ensure its success,” said Harry Wang, director, digital health research, Parks Associates. “Next-generation cloud-based technologies will enable providers to tailor remote care programs to specific populations so they can cost-effectively move patients from an acute-care setting to self-managed behavior.”
Additional digital health research finding, include:
- More than 32 million U.S. consumers will actively track personal health and fitness online or via mobile by 2016.
- By 2017, more than 134 million patients will be managed by PCMH- (patient-centered medical home) or ACO- (accountable care organization) recognized primary care physicians or other types of doctors from an ACO.
- U.S. sales of connected wellness and personal health products and services will exceed $8 billion in 2018.
- U.S. unit sales of networked medical devices will exceed 14 million units by 2018.