Study shows what patients expect future health care to be like

Is your doctor stuck in 2011? A new survey found six percent of Americans feel like they’re walking “backwards in time” 14 years whenever they have a doctor’s appointment.

The poll of 2,000 U.S. adults who have visited a doctor within the past 12 months found two in three believe having a modern or digitally-forward healthcare practice would improve their experience during a doctor visit.

And half believe the use of new technology would also improve their healthcare experiences.

In fact, over the next 5 to 10 years, people envision the healthcare industry changing to incorporate new ways of care access (52%), wearables that can track health more accurately (46%) and include new physical locations for care access (43%).

Others believe it will include having a more personalized care experience (42%), digital education tools in the doctor’s office (36%) and new roles for delivering care (36%).

Commissioned by PatientPoint (https://patientpoint.com) and conducted by Talker Research, the study found 76% of people believe their doctor’s office already feels modern and up-to-date.

“Modern” doctors offices are defined by having appointment reminders sent via text or email (71%), patient portal access (63%), online scheduling (53%), digital health records (53%) and modern waiting areas with phone chargers, sign-in tablets, educational TV screens and more (45%).

Respondents believe it will become “standard practice” in the near future to schedule appointments without needing to speak to a human (53%), have instant test results delivered to them (45%) and be immediately checked in for appointments via facial recognition and biometrics (39%).

Nearly half (45%) said they’re more likely to trust a doctor’s office that is digitally advanced than one that isn’t.

“This research shows that patients aren’t afraid of innovation—they simply want assurance that technology is used responsibly to improve their care,” said Kyle Barich, chief marketing officer, PatientPoint. “What’s striking is how much trust they continue to place in their doctors to deliver that personalized experience. These insights reinforce the importance of equipping providers with the right tools and content at the point of care.”

The survey also revealed how big of an impact people’s trust in how their medical data is handled has on the future of healthcare.

More than four in five (83%) said they trust their healthcare provider and the information they share.

They’re most comfortable letting their primary doctors (92%), any specialty doctors (88%) and their doctor’s medical staff (85%) have access to their health data and medical history.

Meanwhile, they are most uncomfortable with the government (60%), AI and chatbots (47%), and med-tech device companies (36%) handling the same information.

Two-thirds said they feel comfortable sharing their medical information to receive personalized health brand messages, such as treatment options, medication, or health-focused product information.

Eighty-eight percent would feel most comfortable getting their medical information directly from their doctor — while only 3% would be comfortable receiving it from an AI chatbot or platform.

Respondents appeared to keep AI separated from all things medical. When researching their health symptoms, they first turn to search engines (32%), followed by their doctor’s office (31%) or medical information websites (26%). By comparison, only 5% said they use AI chats.

“Patients’ views on AI in healthcare ultimately come down to trust,” continued Kyle Barich. “They want confidence that their medical data is protected and used responsibly, not exploited. At the same time, they still value the irreplaceable role of in-person conversations with their doctors to guide the next steps in their care.”

WHAT WILL BECOME “STANDARD” IN THE FUTURE OF DOCTOR APPOINTMENTS?

• Scheduling appointments without needing to speak to a person – 53%
• Getting instant test results – 45%
• Getting checked in via facial recognition or biometrics – 39%
• Using AI for diagnoses and note-taking – 37%
• Personalized medication based on medical history and genetics – 37%
• Virtual medical assistants – 35%
• Instant diagnosis – 34%
• Digital intake of wearable device data – 30%
• Having a robot take my vitals instead of a nurse or physician’s assistant – 25%
• Using augmented reality glasses to “scan” the patient, take notes or uncover issues – 19%