Survey: 83 Percent of Healthcare Executive Leaders Plan to Invest in Telehealth in 2017

Telemedicine executives are overwhelmingly optimistic about the future of the telehealth industry and are planning near-term investments to keep pace with rapid transformation and growth of the industry, according to findings of the American Telemedicine Association’s 2017 Telemedicine Executive Leadership survey.

According to the ATA’s survey, 83 percent of respondents claimed they are likely to invest in telehealth this year and 88 percent of respondents plan to invest in technology related to telehealth this year. Additionally, almost all of the respondents (98 percent) feel telehealth services create a competitive advantage over other organizations that do not offer it.

The report is based on 171 respondents in executive leadership positions representing telehealth service providers, healthcare practices, and hospital systems.

Most executive leaders (84 percent) believe that offering telehealth services strongly expand an organization’s coverage and reach. Reimbursement and licensure continue to be top barriers to increased telemedicine adoption, according to survey respondents.

Close to half of respondents believe increasing consumer demand will be the key trend that will propel the growth of the telehealth market in the next three years.

Further, executive leaders see patient-centered healthcare and electronic health record (EHR) interoperability as top advancements in telemedicine that they are most excited about.

“This executive leadership survey confirms undeniably today’s leaders view telemedicine as a major driver in transforming healthcare,” Jonathan Linkous, CEO, American Telemedicine Association, said in a statement. “It comes as no surprise that 98 percent of survey respondents believe telehealth services create a competitive advantage, and I anticipate tremendous growth in the market as we continue to move toward more patient-centered solutions.”