Two Thirds of Healthcare Stakeholders Have Faith in Consumers Using Online Tools to Engage With Their Doctor

By Clive Riddle, June 16, 2016

MCOL has conducted an e-poll, co-sponsored by Keenan, of healthcare business stakeholders regarding their opinion on consumer tools involved with healthcare costs or quality. Key questions were asked regarding consumer healthcare cost and quality tools; and ranking of applicable items with respect to overall effectiveness.

68.5% of stakeholders believe it is likely or very likely that a typical consumer will use online data/comparisons to discuss options and costs with a provider. Stakeholders not involved with online tools have a greater belief that consumers are very likely to do so (34.8% compared to 18.6% of stakeholders that are involved with online tools). However, stakeholders involved with tools have an overall greater belief that consumers are likely to do so – combining likely plus very likely responses (72.1% for involved stakeholders compared to 65.2% for stakeholder not involved with tools.)

44.4% of stakeholders feel a smartphone is the optimal vehicle to deliver such tools, while 34.7% feel a computer desktop is the optimal vehicle, and 13.9% listed a tablet such as an iPad as the optimal vehicle. Stakeholders not involved with online tools were less likely to list a computer desktop (21.7% compared to 38.1% for stakeholders involved with tools and 57.1% for stakeholders not sure if they are involved). However smartphones were the top choice for both stakeholders involved with online tools, or not involved with online tools.

Given five types of tools to rank for effectiveness, stakeholders preferred health insurance out-of-pocket costs calculators and healthcare service price estimator/comparisons. Given seven issues to rank by level of concern, relating to consumer tools, stakeholders were most concerned by accuracy/credibility of data sources, and consumer ability to understand/use tool correctly.

58.9% of stakeholders indicated they are involved with consumer tools, while 31.5% responded they are not involved, and 9.5% were not sure. The online survey of healthcare business stakeholders was conducted during May 2016 by MCOL.  Survey participants received a detailed report on the survey results.

As Tim Crawford, a Vice President from Keenan puts it, “if we want to bend the healthcare cost trend downward by making patients and their families more effective consumers, we will need to equip them with the information they need to make informed decisions. Consumers of medical services will need to know about the quality of their providers and understand the total costs involved. More than two-thirds of those responding to the survey believe that consumers will use tools that give them this information and will use the knowledge to discuss options and costs with their providers. Ideally, such tools can provide the common ground needed for patients and physicians to have a transparent dialog about medical decisions.”