The American Medical Association’s have released research this week which gives an insight into the frequency of physicians taking on a more digital approach to the healthcare they provide. The survey portrays six years’ worth of research, dating back to 2016 where AMA first investigated the frequency that digital health was being availed of by physicians. Within this six-year time period, AMA surveyed over 1300 physicians on a regular basis, receiving feedback on their willingness and desire to incorporate digital health aspects to the healthcare they offer. The following key discoveries were made from the association’s research:
- The number of physicians that see an advantage to availing of digital health has increased from approximately 85 to 93 percent
- The number of physicians that have begun to avail of digital health tools has also increased, from 2.2 to 3.8 percent over the last six years.
- The basis for physicians justifying these digital tools was an increased efficiency of workflow, and improved patient outcomes. Additionally, lower levels of stress and less frequent physician burnout was noted
- Digital tools were used most prominently in cases where remote care was offered to patients. The number of physicians that offer virtual care visits rose from fourteen percent to eighty percent over the six years, and the number of physicians that utilized monitoring devices increased from twelve to thirty percent, at present.
- Of the physicians that used digital tools, it was found that 57 percent used tele-visits, and 53 percent used monitoring devices
- AMA also inquired as to physicians’ intentions for the future. Two out of five physicians surveyed indicated they intend to integrate augmented intelligence to their practices, adding to the one in five that currently operate with it.
“The physician adoption rate of digital health tools has accelerated as physicians grow increasingly optimistic about the advantages that properly designed digital health tools can have for patient care if key requirements are met,” said AMA President Jack Resneck Jr., MD. “The AMA survey illustrates the importance physicians place on validated digital health tools that improve health while streamlining the technological and administrative burdens faced each day in medicine. These technologies also must be designed and deployed in ways that advance health equity.”
