Survey: Patients want more electronic communication with providers

Editor's Note

A Nielsen survey of 5,000 healthcare recipients found that 15% (aged 18 to 65) communicate with providers through e-mails, 21% schedule appointments online, and 9% get text reminders, the Washington Post reports.

Among those who do not communicate electronically, 36% were interested in online appointment scheduling, and 34% want an online portal to access test results.

Of 626 physicians surveyed who do not frequently use electronic communication, 11% recommend the use of e-mail reminders to patients, and 8% recommended text reminders. 

The digital technology that many Americans use in often very busy lives -- in banking, shopping, traveling, communicating -- still plays but a bit role when it comes to their health care. According to a Nielsen survey released Tuesday, most people can't use email, texting and other tools to share medical information with their doctors, much less receive the same, because many providers don't offer such access.