René Quashie, vice president of health at the Virginia-based Consumer Technology Association (CTA), said its research has found that while many people use technology in the health care industry, health care providers believe work must be done to make those tools more accessible.
“Economic, social and geographic divides make the adoption of health technology at scale challenging. This research leverages diverse insights to highlight opportunities to expand adoption and boost engagement with digital health solutions,” Quashie said according to a Feb. 27 press release. “Digital health technologies need to be adaptable, portable and meet the needs of consumers. Health care providers can drive adoption by building and sharing awareness of the tools available, while lowering barriers to entry.”
The CTA’s “Driving Consumer Adoption of Digital Health Solutions” report analyzed the usage of technology in the U.S. health care ecosystem, the release said. It provided recommendations on how health care companies and providers could facilitate more widespread adoption of tools like blood pressure monitors and hearing aids, according to the release. The report said that 58% of health care providers agree that technological tools help to lighten the burden on the U.S. health system, but only 44% believe that technological devices are being used to their full potential.
The study said that 60% of consumer survey respondents have used telehealth services, according to the release. Consumers who were surveyed said the No. 1 reason they have turned to digital health solutions is to take control of their health, while other top reasons include the accessibility and reliability of those tools, according to the release. Still others cited health insurance coverage as their reason for adopting digital solutions.
Of consumers who had been using digital health technologies but stopped doing so, most said that cost was the issue. The study said that 57% of health care providers believe increased patient reimbursement is needed to facilitate broader adoption of health technologies, and 63% said there needs to be more clinical evidence in support of health technologies to drive adoption, according to the release.
The report recommended that health care providers ensure they have up-to-date information about the digital health solutions they can offer to patients, the release said. For health care tech companies, the report recommended focusing on increasing consumer awareness, as well as supporting policies that would expand consumers’ access to those tools.
