Poll: Most Older Adults Wary of Telemedicine

A national survey of more than 2,250 adults found Americans older than 50 remain hesitant to use telemedicine, reports Futurity . Just 4 percent of respondents had had a virtual visit with a doctor via smartphone or computer in the past year, and their feelings were mixed. Meanwhile, more than 50 percent were unaware if their health providers offered telehealth visits, over 80 percent had at least one concern about telehealth, and 47 percent were concerned about technical difficulties. Still, more than half were willing to try telehealth in certain scenarios, like if they became ill while traveling or needed follow-up on previous care. Among the 33 percent of respondents whose providers have yet to offer telehealth, 48 percent were interested in trying it out with their primary care doctor — although fewer would try it for specialty or mental healthcare. "Telehealth won't replace in-person medical examinations completely, but for situations where in-person visits aren't essential, they can save time and resources for customers and providers alike," says University of Michigan Professor Preeti Malani. "Providers shouldn't assume older adults aren't receptive to virtual visits, but they should understand and work to overcome some of the reasons for hesitation."