Telehealth used more by older patients than younger ones

Maybe the older, the wiser when it comes to using telehealth.

A Colliers report by James Bailey pointed out that the benefits of this virtual healthcare mechanism significantly reduced patient wait times, lowered costs for healthcare providers, and increased overall efficiency for physicians.

Consumers generally find those to be favorable outcomes.

However, Bailey also reported that older patients are significantly more inclined to embrace it over younger crowds, which often hold the reputation of being digital natives who embrace all things technology.

This finding is significant as the virtual healthcare continues to spread. Most recently, Amazon Clinic announced it was expanding, as one example.

While younger age groups still utilize telemedicine, older generations demonstrate higher rates of adoption due to their medical needs and preferences.

Among 18–29-year-olds, 29.4% reported using telemedicine in the past 12 months compared to 43.3% among those 65 or older.

“Telehealth’s growth reflects what today’s patients value: Convenience and efficiency,” according to Bailey. “This correlates to the shift toward medical office buildings for care delivery, which are typically located in easily accessible hubs near retail with ample parking.”

Bailey said the post-pandemic world is adapting well to the viable hybrid solutions available in health care and the workplace.

He added that while many older workers prefer work-from-home scenarios rather than being in the office, younger workers prefer an office setting because they “crave face-to-face feedback from their managers as they start their career journey.”

Related: Congress advances telehealth bill, which would allow access to care beyond COVID

Recent surveys indicate that Gen Z employees express a desire to return to in-person work full-time or hybrid, and only 19% of respondents said they would prefer to work from home full-time.