New data from Parks Associates (www.parksassociates.com) shows that 25% of U.S. broadband households are interested in using a health portal to review doctors' notes and nearly one-fifth would like to receive an electronic checklist after a doctor or hospital visit.

Over 50% of U.S. broadband households use two or more patient portals at least once a month, and interest in additional capabilities, particularly related to doctor communication, is relatively strong, according to the research group. Health plans and providers need to invest in connected solutions that will be more attractive to their members and patients, focusing on the entire health value proposition for consumers instead of just on their medical expenditures," says Ron Ozminkowski, Chief Scientific Officer and SVP, OptumHealth Care Solutions, UnitedHealth Group. "

"Lowering healthcare costs will be the biggest driver for the connected health market," says Lena Cheng, MD, Vice President, Medical Affairs, Doctor On Demand. "Maintaining or improving health will increasingly move away from being addressed in a single point in time. No longer will consumers need to be in the same room with healthcare providers or expensive equipment for screening, diagnosis, treatment, or prevention. Digital health solutions are enabling consumers to incorporate health management into their daily lives, whether they're at work, home, or on the go."