CHARLESTON, SC – February 22, 2016 – Decades ago doctors made house calls and would trek to patients’ homes in the worst of weather to care for patients. Well, those days have passed and we are in a new era when it comes to healthcare. One area the medical profession has been a little slower to embrace is digital technology, especially for patients’ records. Yet, three-quarters of Americans (76%) agree that all doctors today should be using digital technology for patients’ records. And, it is not just younger generations who feel this way as over three-quarters (77%) of those 55 and older agree all doctors should be using digital technology for patients’ records today.

These are the results of an online survey conducted by Regina Corso Consulting among 1,011 U.S. adults 18 and older between February 11 and 12, 2016.

In fact, almost half of Americans (47%) say they would switch doctors to go to one who used digital technology. Here there is a large generational gap. While just one-quarter (25%) of those 55 and older would switch doctors to one who uses digital technology that number jumps up to half of those 40-54 (50%), over half of those 18-29 (55%) and seven in ten of those aged 30-39 (70%).

There are some concerns regarding digital technology. Almost nine in ten U.S. adults (87%) say before digital technology is implemented universally, better security needs to be put in place and six in ten (59%) believe a reliance on digital technology in healthcare automates medical care too much.

“Americans are embracing digital technology in healthcare and Millennials and Gen Xers are willing to switch doctors to go to one who uses it,” says Mark Bennett, Head of Digital Communications, Bayer Corporation. “As the industry continues to improve the security for digital records, even more patients will accept this practice.”

“As better security is implemented and doctors show digital records are enhancing the care they provide, not replacing any aspect of it, more Americans will be willing to switch to doctors who use digital technology,” states Regina A. Corso, President of Regina Corso Consulting. “Digital is becoming the new norm and healthcare practices that do not complete the transition to it will find themselves losing patients.”

About Regina Corso Consulting

Regina Corso Consulting is a full service public relations and communications focused market research firm. Led by the nation’s premier public release research expert, Regina Corso, the team is made up of seasoned research and communications professionals who deliver strategic and creative research to equip clients with actionable data for communications programs. They provide omnibus and custom research for media outreach efforts, local media tours, social/digital campaigns and thought leadership efforts.  For more information, please visit ReginaCorsoConsulting.com.

Methodology:

This online survey was conducted by Regina Corso Consulting between February 11 and 12, 2016 among 1,011 U.S. adults, aged 18 and older. Figures for age, gender, education, income, employment and region were weighted to being them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate, no estimates of sampling error can be calculated.

Table One

DOCTORS SHOULD BE USING DIGITAL TECH

“How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? – All doctors today should be using digital technology for patients’ records.”

All adults

Note: Results may not equal 100% because of rounding

Table Two

SECURITY AND DIGITAL TECH

“How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? – Before digital technology in healthcare is implemented universally, better security needs to be put in place.”

All adults

Note: Results may not equal 100% because of rounding

Table Three

SWITCHING DOCTORS

“How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? – I would switch doctors to go to one who used digital technology.”

All adults

Note: Results may not equal 100% because of rounding

Table Four

DOCTORS RELYING ON DIGITAL

“How strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements? – A reliance on digital technology in healthcare automates medical care too much.”

All adults

Note: Results may not equal 100% because of rounding