Acceptance of telehealth services is growing, with 64 percent of patients recently surveyed saying they would consider a video chat with their doctor instead of an in-person visit, according to an article on the Fierce Health IT website.

The survey said telehealth offers a lower-cost, convenient alternative to in-person case, the article said.

If they were sick in the middle of the night, 44 percent of respondents said they would go to the emergency room, but 21 percent would choose a video visit; 17 percent who said they would consult a 24-hour nurse line. Thirty percent of those with children under 18 said they would choose an e-visit. Seventy percent would choose a video visit to obtain a prescription.

Telehealth is getting more popular, the article said. Recently, New York became the 22nd state to pass legislation requiring that telehealth visits be reimbursed at the same rate as in-person visits.

Read the article.