Medical Group Management Association’s MGMA Stat poll asked healthcare professionals if their physicians recommended digital health applications for their patients. The majority of respondents (54 percent) stated their doctors did not recommend health apps for their patients and another 28 percent were unsure. Only 19 percent of the respondents reported their physicians recommended digital health apps.
Those that recommend health apps were split on the type of applications doctors recommended. Just over a third (34 percent) stated the app was condition specific, 14 percent stated their doctors suggested a meal tracking app, and 9 percent recommended a fitness app. The remaining 43 percent said their physicians used another app or were unsure.
Among the majority of respondents whose physicians did not recommend an app, many described a lack of trust in the available technology or they did not consider the information accurate or reliable. Others stated that the current digital applications were not applicable to their specialty.
The poll was conducted on August 8, 2017 with 1251 total responses. Of this total, 43 indicated the question was not applicable to their situation with a net of 1208 applicable responses.
MGMA Stat is a national poll that addresses practice management topics, the impact of new legislation, and related topics. Participation is open to all healthcare professionals. Results of other polls and information on how to participate in MGMA Stat is available at: mgma.org/polls.
