Eighty percent of people would like the option to use their smartphones to interact with healthcare providers, according to a recent survey from the San Jose, Calif.-based FICO, a predictive analytics and decision management software company.
These organizations include government and private insurers, hospitals, pharmacies, mail-order drug companies, third party administrators, and clinics. The survey—comprised of more than 2,200 adult smartphone users—also showed that 76 percent of people worldwide are keen to be reminded of their medical appointments, and 69 percent would like to receive reminders to arrange appointments or to prompt them to take their medication.
The FICO survey showed that 56 percent of people worldwide trust healthcare organizations with personal data. So while eHealth records have yet to take off in many countries, simple innovations around mobile alerts and information services are helping to build the trust necessary for this trend to continue, the survey found.
The potential for mobile technology in healthcare ties in with another emerging trend—an increase in the use of alternative advice channels. Almost two-thirds of smartphone users want to receive medical advice through digital channels instead of visiting a doctor. In addition, 71 percent of smartphone users are open to offers of relevant healthcare services from businesses, and 53 percent are open to provider-initiated communications.
“The way healthcare organizations communicate with people is changing, as individuals become more and more sophisticated about using information technology to make health-related decisions,” Stuart Wells, FICO’s chief product and technology officer, said in a statement. “People are especially interested in mobile services that can help them manage their personal health and shop for healthcare services. The leading healthcare providers are increasingly turning to mobile technologies to meet this demand, and to engage frequently and proactively with consumers.”
