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Of course, there is still some ques- tion as to how prevalent telemedicine remains once lockdowns are fully lifted and COVID fears fade from the col - lective psyche. Surveys of consumers that used telemedicine provide some promise, but enthusiasm should be somewhat tempered. As for some good news, Ipsos consumer research shows that pa- tients today are much more open to using telemedicine with their provid- ers. Moreover, patient attitudes point to the potential for telemedicine to continue to be used for visits in the future, if it’s made available to them. Nearly six in 10 people (58 percent) who said they hadn’t used telemedi- cine will try it if they can, according to Ipsos survey of 1,005 U.S. adults. That’s a 25 percent increase from two years ago when 46 percent of people said the same. Another one in five patients (18 per - cent) have used telemedicine and will use it again if they can. That’s up from 11 percent in 2018, when 10 percent of people on average worldwide reported using telemedicine in a global Ipsos survey. And even the most skeptical patients are warming to the idea. The percent of people who would not try telemedicine fell by half to 11 percent in the new survey compared to 23 per- cent in 2018. A recent survey of 2,000 adults by IT vendor Sykes likewise found that two-third of respondents said the pan- demic has increased their willingness to try virtual care. And a similar two- thirds of those who have already had a telehealth appointment had more than one, suggesting that those who have tried telehealth services were satisfied enough to give in another go. Separate surveys by YouGov/Ched- dar also illustrates how Americans have become more comfortable with tele- medicine services. In November 2019, 65 percent of Americans said they would be comfortable speaking to a doctor or nurse practitioner over the phone or internet, rather than in-person. In April 2020, that number had risen to 74 percent. When asked in November 2019 how much they would trust services provided by a doctor over telemedicine, 14 percent said they would trust these services “a lot.” In April 2020, one in five (20 percent) said they would trust a telemedicine doctor a lot. It also should be noted that the U.S. government expanded telehealth con- sultations to nearly 62 million Medicare beneficiaries, making it easier for them to speak with healthcare providers, get treatment and fill prescriptions via phone or videoconference. All told, the surveys found that anywhere between 15 percent and 20 percent of U.S. adults have now actually taken a virtual healthcare visit. On the flipside, it can be difficult to assess how much the shelter-in-place orders and social distancing recom- mendation played into the top reason why respondents would consider making a future telehealth appoint- ment. As the Sykes data showed, the number one reason respondents were interested in utilizing telemedicine ap- pointments in the future – name by 38 percent of adults surveyed – was that they like the idea of being able to get a potential diagnosis without being around others who are sick in a wait- ing room. More than third, however, also appreciated the convenience of keeping an appointment without hav- ing to commute to a clinic or physi- cian’s office, while an additional 12 percent find the ability to schedule same-day care appealing. When asked about the ability to re- ceive comparable healthcare through telehealth as they do for in-person vis- its, answers were split. About one-third of respondents saied that they don’t be- lieve it’s possible for comparable tele- health care – but that it’s a good option for initial consultations or basic care. At the same time, roughly one-third of respondents said that they do believe people get comparable healthcare through telehealth. Overall, more than 40% of respondents were concerned about the ability to get proper treatment or a diagnosis in a virtual setting. Physicians likewise express some skepticism. “Using it at this time is absolutely necessary, but overall it has limits,” said one primary care physician inter- viewed by Ipsos. Among the concerns are the inabil- ity to perform physical exams, which is particularly concerning for newly seen patients; the inability to take vitals, such as when a patient does not own an accurate thermometer; and the inor- dinate reliance on guesswork. “But it’s good to take time to lis- ten to patient complaints,” the doctor continued. Assuming patient demand persists, and the technology lives up to the task, doctors and other healthcare providers might be forced to adapt. o Source: NordVPN Non-Hardware Revenues by Applic In $Billions Source: ABI Research Source: J.D. Power Americans are far more open to using telemedicine since COVID-19 Source: Ipsos, April 2020 Which mission-critical functions or systems hav you migrat d to the cl ud? Source: Colt UK USA France Denmark Netherlands Belgium Spain Canada Austria Italy 100 50 0 Percentage Countries 2018 2020 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% I have used telemedicine and I will use it again if I can I have used telemedicine, but I will not use it again, even if I can I haven’t used telemedicine, but I will try it if I can I haven’t used telemedicine, and I will not try it, even if I can Not sure Enterprise Resource Planning Customer Relationship Management Contact Center Data Management Employee Communications Oth r 57% 63% 42% 84% 46% 1% 2020 U.S Telecom In-Home Servic Technician Study 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 Asset Tracking HMI/IPC Machine T 2019 DISH Verizon AT&T DIRECTV Spectrum Industry Average Xfinity CenturyLink Cox Communications Frontier Communications Overall Customer Satisfaction Index Rankin BUYERS SIDE 18 CHANNEL VISION | May - June, 2020