Giving Compass' Take:

• A poll found that people over fifty would be hesitant to use telemedicine to receive care, presenting a problem for advocates of the practice. 

• What type of buy-in is needed to make telemedicine a successful and scaleable intervention? 

• Find out how telemedicine can expand access to healthcare in rural areas. 

People over 50 aren’t quite ready to fully embrace telemedicine, virtual health visits with their doctors and other providers, a new national poll suggests.

Of those surveyed, only 4% had had a video-based telehealth visit with a doctor via smartphone or computer in the past year. They had mixed reactions.

Meanwhile, more than half of all those polled didn’t even know if their health providers offer telehealth visits at all. More than 80% of older adults polled expressed at least one concern about seeing a doctor or other provider virtually rather than in person. And 47% worried about getting the technology to work.

But more than half said they’d be willing to try telehealth in some situations, for instance if they got sick while traveling or needed follow-up on previous care.

Read the full article about reluctence to use telemedicine at Futurity.