WorkLight Confirms Consumers Flocking to Web 2.0-Enabled Healthcare

11/11/2008

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WorkLight says that consumers - particularly in the US - are turning to Web 2.0-enabled online healthcare, as healthcare providers realize the cost advantages of using "Healthcare 2.0" technology. A recent industry report confirms that over 60 million adults are now using Web 2.0 for healthcare in the United States.

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"Healthcare in the US is an expensive commodity and, as a result, providers are always seeking to streamline operations. Allowing members to manage their own healthcare portfolio services online helps them to achieve this, as well as raising levels of customer satisfaction. It's a win-win situation," said David Lavenda, vice president of marketing and product strategy at WorkLight.

Lavenda's comments come following the release of a report from Manhattan Research that defines Healthcare 2.0 consumers as adults who have read health-related blogs; accessed message boards or participated in health-related chatrooms.

The study, says Lavenda, also classes Healthcare 2.0 consumers as people who have posted health content online such as: writing or commenting on a health-related blog, adding or responding to a topic in a forum or group, or creating health-related Web pages, videos or audio content.

"The list of healthcare-related Web 2.0 activities is quite long and that, in itself, speaks volumes of the need to engage patients and members in the places they frequent online, including social networks such as Facebook and LinkedIn, personal homepages such as iGoogle and Windows Live, desktop gadget environments such as Yahoo! Widgets and Google Gadgets, RSS feeds, iPhones, and more," he explained.

Lavenda went on to say that one of the most interesting conclusions of the report is the fact that 10 million US adults are now accessing Healthcare 2.0 information on the move, using mobile devices.

This, he said, represents a subtle but significant shift in the way healthcare consumers are looking for service. Instead of interfacing face-to-face or over the phone, patients are migrating to the Internet - and now to the mobile Internet as well.

"This is all good news for providers and consumers of online healthcare services, but there is, of course, the security issue to address," said Lavenda. "Our observations suggest that, once these concerns have been addressed using a solid enterprise-grade Web 2.0 technology, then the industry will reap the considerable benefits that this technology can bring to them," he added.

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