Final Report: Providers

9. Web Site Use

Web sites are more frequently used for employee recruitment than they were in the past year. Patient scheduling was cited as the most popular potential use of Web sites in the next two years.

The 94 percent of respondents who reported that their organizations have a Web site represents a slight decrease from last year's 97 percent. Marketing/promotion of the organization remains the number one Web site use reported (97 percent). Employee recruitment, while remaining in the number-two slot, increased to 88 percent from 2001's 75 percent. Use of on-line physician/provider directories was cited by 73 percent of respondents, and provision of consumer health information was cited by 71 percent of respondents (compared with 65 percent last year for both Web site uses). Two Web site uses declined substantially between the 2001 and 2002 surveys: posting policies and procedures fell from 51 percent to 38 percent, and Intranet use fell from 59 percent to 41 percent.

The top three most frequently identified priorities for Web site use in the next two years remain unchanged from last year. Patient scheduling was once again the most frequently cited priority for the next two years (56 percent, compared with 42 percent in 2001). Communication with clinicians (43 percent) and patient health assessment tools (40 percent) rounded out the top three. Purchasing supplies, identified as a priority in 2001 by 26 percent respondents, fell to 1 percent.

Figures:

Figure 20. Current Web Site Functions
Figure 21. Additional Web Site Functions Planned (Next Two Years)

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