In-Person Treatment Preferred by People Post-Pandemic

The majority of customers also prefer in-person Treatment for long-term needs, according to a survey conducted on behalf of Kyruus, a patient-experience software provider. Simultaneously, nearly a third of respondents say virtual visits are more likely now than before the pandemic, and nearly two-thirds say telehealth connectivity will be a key factor in determining where to get Treatment in the future.

The Kyruus study is based on a survey of 1,000 people over the age of 18 from across the United States who used both private and public insurance. A report accompanying the same said, “While some of the pandemic’s influence on consumer choice may be shorter-term, it is evident that the pandemic permanently re-shaped patient preferences and expectations in profound ways.”

According to the survey, 62 percent of respondents had a virtual care visit of some sort between March 2019 and March 2020, with 71 percent of them doing so for the first time. During the pandemic, half of the respondents said their primary care provider provided virtual care visits. In the future, the majority of customers – but not an absolute majority – favoured in-person service.

More than 40% of respondents said they’d prefer to receive mental health and routine care services virtually or through a mix of virtual and in-person visits. In addition, 30% said they were more likely to pursue virtual visits after the pandemic, while 35% said they were equally likely. Because of loosened federal limits on telehealth, the pandemic sparked unparalleled interest in virtual Treatment. However, the future of telemedicine is unclear – and long-term patient interest seems to differ depending on who asks and who is asked.