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As patients seek greater convenience and health care systems strive to reduce costs, provider organizations need to get ready for a spike in the use of eVisits.

The use of “eVisits,” in which patients interact directly or indirectly with health care providers via the Internet, should increase sharply this year. Deloitte predicts there will be 100 million eVisits globally in 2014. This would represent a 400 percent increase from 2012 levels and could potentially save over $5 billion compared with the cost of in-person doctor visits.

eVisits typically entail capturing patient information through forms, questionnaires, and photos, rather than direct interaction with a physician. For example, a patient suffering from an earache could complete an online form to describe his symptoms and then receive a diagnosis and, if required, a prescription. Online video consultations between patients and doctors represent just a small part of the market and offer only minor cost savings compared with an in-person visit. eVisits are part of the broader telehealth market that also includes remote monitoring, alerts, and notifications.

Trends in technology and business are aligning to make 2014 a breakthrough year for eVisits. For example, advances in analytics have made it easier to automate the back office elements of eVisits, while health care systems aim to decrease costs by focusing on prevention and early intervention, and by continuing to integrate IT.

IT leaders of physician practices, hospitals, and other health care providers will need to help their organizations benefit from the efficiencies and improvements in patient care that eVisits promise to deliver.

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited researchers Duncan Stewart and Paul Lee discuss the prognosis for eVisits in this TMT predictions video.