1 in 3 Patients Say Emailing With Physicians Improved Overall Health

Kaiser Permanente recently conducted a survey regarding the impact of patients exchanging emails with physicians. Here are some key findings from the report:

·         1 in 3 patients with chronic conditions said that emailing with their physician improved overall health.

·         67% of patients with chronic conditions said the email communication did not change their overall health.

·         Half of respondents (56%) had sent their provider an email within the previous year.

·         46% of respondents used email as the first method of contact for one or more medical concerns.

·         2 in 5 (42%) reported that using email reduced phone contacts with their healthcare provider.

·         85% of patients with higher cost sharing reported choosing email as their first method of contact.

Source: Kaiser Permanente, December 21, 2015