These health needs give telemedicine an edge over in-person care

For more insights and key statistics on the biggest trends in today's most disruptive industries, subscribe to our Chart of the Day newsletter.

Telemedicine is not the way most US adults prefer to access care. For only two healthcare needs—flu or cold treatment, and prescription refills—live video visits held an edge over in-office visits in 2021, and this margin was slim. US adults were more inclined to travel to their providers for mental health services, annual checkups, and physical therapy.

Beyond the chart: Acute care changes the picture, however. Most who had accessed telemedicine for a medical emergency found it more satisfactory than in-person care. About 30% of US adults use telemedicine, which will grow in popularity even as COVID-19 caution wanes. To capture the 83.4 million using these services in 2022, providers should first understand how the pandemic has shaped the digital needs of healthcare consumers.

"Behind the Numbers" Podcast