Almost four in ten (38%) of respondents to a survey use remote monitoring health services such as blood pressure monitoring, according a report from Colorado’s Office of eHealth Innovation (OeHI) and Connected Nation.

The target of the survey was Delta, Garfield, Mesa, Moffat, Montrose, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties in the rural northwest region of the state. In all, about 800 adults were surveyed.

Highlights of the report:

• The most popular use of telehealth services is through telephone calls. Following are online chat and email.
• Most telehealth users agree that the services save time and money and are as good as in-person visits.
• 64% of telehealth users made at least some in-person visits to a doctor unnecessary. This saved an average of 5.8 healthcare visits during the past year.
• 72% of non-telehealth users said that they wouldn’t use it even if it was available to them.
• Concerns about telehealth include data privacy, concerns that issues may not be adequately addressed, and worries about the quality.

“Telehealth is an important tool in the toolbox when it comes to ensuring Coloradans have access to the reliable, quality care they need to be well,” said Dianne Primavera, Colorado Lieutenant Governor and Director of the Office of Saving People Money on Health Care. “As we continue our work to strengthen health care in our state, we are prioritizing understanding the specific needs of our rural communities.”

The report offered three recommendations, all aimed at promoting telehealth. It suggests that consumer awareness programs are needed to promote the quality and efficacy of services, that campaigns be developed that address concerns of specific populations, and that the campaigns “should be comprehensive and go beyond the health care industry.”

The full report is available here.