Do you ever feel like your doctor’s stuck in the past? A recent survey revealed that about 6% of Americans feel like they’re stepping back 14 years each time they visit a doctor.
This poll, involving 2,000 US adults who have seen a doctor in the last year, suggests that a more modern, digital approach to healthcare could really boost the experience during visits.
Many respondents believe that advancements in technology will enhance their healthcare experience. Over the next five to ten years, people expect to see things like improved access to care (52%), wearables for more precise health tracking (46%), and new healthcare facilities popping up (43%).
Additionally, a more personalized care experience (42%), digital educational tools in offices (36%), and innovative roles in healthcare provision (36%) were seen as important trends.
Conducted by Talker Research and commissioned by PatientPoint, the survey found that 76% of individuals think their clinics are already modern and up-to-date.
What does a “modern” doctor’s office look like? Many defined it as having appointment reminders via text or email (71%), patient portals (63%), online scheduling options (53%), digital health records (53%), and contemporary waiting areas equipped with phone chargers and educational screens (45%).
Respondents anticipate that soon, scheduling appointments without needing to speak to someone will be the norm (53%), as well as getting instant test results (45%) and checking in with facial recognition (39%). Interestingly, about 45% feel more comfortable trusting a technologically advanced medical office compared to those that are less so.
According to Kyle Barrich, Chief Marketing Officer at PatientPoint, “Patients are open to innovation. They simply want to see technology used wisely to enhance their care.” He pointed out that there’s a significant level of trust between patients and their doctors regarding personalized care.
The study emphasized how the handling of health data might fundamentally shape the future of healthcare. A striking 83% of respondents expressed trust in sharing their health information with providers.
They are most at ease sharing this data with general practitioners (92%), specialists (88%), and medical staff (85%). However, they seem wary about government bodies (60%), AI, and chatbots (47%), and medical technology companies (36%) handling their data.
Two-thirds felt comfortable sharing health information for personalized health communications, including treatment suggestions and product details.
While 88% prefer receiving medical information directly from their physicians, only a mere 3% felt comfortable getting it from AI chatbots. In fact, when seeking information on health symptoms, many turn first to search engines (32%), followed by consultations with doctors (31%) or medical websites (26%). Only 5% would think of using AI chat.
Barrich added that patients desire assurance that their medical data is treated responsibly and protected, while recognizing the invaluable nature of face-to-face interactions with doctors for continued care.
What might become the “standard” for future medical appointments?
- Scheduling without human interaction – 53%
- Receiving instant test results – 45%
- Checking in via facial recognition – 39%
- AI used for diagnoses and note-taking – 37%
- Personalized medications tailored to medical history and genetics – 37%
- Virtual medical assistance – 35%
- Instant diagnoses – 34%
- Digital integration of wearable data – 30%
- Having a robot take vital signs instead of a nurse or assistant – 25%
- Utilizing augmented reality for patient evaluations – 19%
Research method:
Talker Research conducted an online survey with 2,000 US respondents who visited a doctor in the last year, commissioned by PatientPoint, from July 22nd to July 29th, 2025.
