From virtual visits to quick online prescriptions, the latest telemedicine statistics show a dramatic shift toward remote care since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here, we’ll discuss the latest data to explore how telehealth is being used across the U.S., who relies on it most, and where in-person care is still essential.
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Telehealth Adoption & Growth Trends
What percentage of U.S. physicians used telehealth in 2024?
In 2024, approximately 71.4% of physicians in the United States reported using telehealth, reflecting its widespread adoption across medical practices.
What percentage of physicians offer telehealth on a weekly basis?
71% of physicians report using telehealth weekly.
What percentage of office-based physicians use telemedicine?
As of 2021, approximately 87% of office-based physicians in the United States reported using telemedicine tools in their practice.
How much higher is weekly telehealth use among physicians today compared with pre-pandemic usage?
In 2024, about 71.4% of physicians reported using telehealth on a weekly basis, a sharp increase from just 25% in 2018.
What percentage of physicians used telehealth before the pandemic versus after the pandemic?
Telehealth adoption surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, rising from about 25% of physicians in 2018 to approximately 79% during the pandemic.
How did telemedicine appointments increase during the first three months of the pandemic?
During the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine encounters increased by approximately 766%.
How many people use telemedicine worldwide?
In 2024, more than 116 million people worldwide used online doctor consultations.
Telehealth Use Among Physicians
What percentage of physicians use telehealth for more than 20% of their weekly visits?
About 15.7% of physicians report using telehealth (video or audio-only) for more than 20% of their weekly patient visits.
How does telehealth utilization differ by practice size?
Telehealth utilization increases significantly with practice size, as larger physician groups adopt telemedicine at much higher rates than solo providers:
- 1 physician: 76%
- 2–3 physicians: 78%
- 4–10 physicians: 93%
- 11–50 physicians: 96%
- More than 50 physicians: 98%
Are solo practice physicians less likely to use telemedicine?
Yes, solo practice physicians are significantly less likely to use telemedicine, with adoption rates at least 17 percentage points lower than practices with four or more physicians.
How does telehealth use differ between primary care and specialty care?
63.3% of surgical specialists report less than 25% telehealth use compared to 53.9% of primary care physicians.
What percentage of primary care physicians use telehealth?
In 2021, approximately 46.1% of primary care physicians used telehealth for at least 25% of their patient visits.
Which physician specialties use telehealth the most in the U.S.?
Telehealth usage varies by specialty, but the highest adoption rates are as follows:
- Neurology: 32.2%
- Endocrinology: 24.2%
- Gastroenterology: 20.4%
- Family and general medicine: 20.1%
- Urology: 18.7%
Which physician specialties use telehealth the least in the U.S.?
Telehealth adoption is lowest in procedure-heavy specialties, including:
- Ophthalmology: 1.8%
- Dermatology: 3.7%
- Emergency medicine: 4.3%
- Orthopaedic surgery: 4.7%
- Anesthesiology: 6.2%
What percentage of psychiatrists use telehealth?
More than 68% of psychiatrists in the United States now use telehealth.
Patient Telehealth Usage
What percentage of adults in the U.S. used telehealth in the past 12 months?
As of 2021, approximately 37.0% of U.S. adults reported using telemedicine within the past 12 months.
What percentage of patients prefer telehealth over in-person visits?
More than 20% of adult patients choose telehealth instead of in-person visits.
What share of telehealth diagnoses are related to mental health?
Mental health conditions account for approximately 62.1% of all telehealth diagnoses in the United States.
Telehealth Use by Demographics
How does telehealth use vary by patient age group in the U.S.?
Telehealth use increases with age, rising from 29.4% among adults ages 18–29 to 43.3% among adults age 65 and older in the United States as of 2021.
How does telehealth use vary by gender?
As of 2021, telehealth use was higher among women, with 42.0% of women using telehealth services compared to 31.7% of men.
How does telehealth use vary by race and ethnicity?
Telehealth use varies by race and ethnicity:
- Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native adults: 40.6%
- Non-Hispanic White adults: 39.2%
- Hispanic adults: 32.8%
- Non-Hispanic Black adults: 33.1%
- Non-Hispanic Asian adults: 33.0%
How does telehealth use vary by income level?
Telehealth use increases with income. About 33.1% of adults below 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and 32.1% of those between 100%–200% of FPL use telemedicine, compared to 40.7% of adults with incomes at 400% or higher of FPL.
How does telehealth use vary by education level?
Telehealth use increases with education level, rising from 28.7% among adults without a high school diploma to 43.2% among those with a college degree or higher.
How does telehealth use vary by insurance type?
Medicaid patients use telehealth most frequently (4.7% of visits), compared to private insurance (3.3%) and Medicare (1.9%).
How does telehealth use vary between urban and rural patients?
As of 2021, telehealth use was higher in urban areas and decreased with rurality, dropping from 40.3% among adults in large metropolitan counties to 27.5% among those in rural areas.
How does telehealth adoption vary across U.S. regions?
As of 2021, telehealth use varied by region:
- West: 42.4%
- Northeast: 40.0%
- South: 34.3%
- Midwest: 33.3%
Telehealth Usage by Medicare Beneficiaries
What percentage of Medicare beneficiaries use telehealth services?
In 2023, more than 12.6% of Medicare beneficiaries in the United States used telehealth services.
What percentage of Medicare beneficiaries use audio-only telehealth?
About 56.5% of Medicare beneficiaries over age 65 use audio-only telehealth visits.
How many Medicare beneficiaries used telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic?
In 2020, approximately 52.7 million Medicare beneficiaries used telehealth services, highlighting the massive surge in virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Healthcare Systems & Facility Usage
What percentage of health centers use telehealth for primary care?
In 2024, about 95% of HRSA-funded health centers used telehealth to provide primary care services.
What percentage of U.S. hospitals use apps to diagnose and treat patients?
Around 76% of U.S. hospitals use apps and digital tools to diagnose and treat patients.
Which states have the highest telehealth adoption rates by hospitals?
States with the highest hospital telehealth adoption rates include:
- Minnesota: 80.8%
- Michigan: 80.3%
- Wisconsin: 80.2%
Which states have the lowest telehealth adoption rates by hospitals?
States with the lowest hospital telehealth adoption rates include:
- Hawaii: 32.3%
- Kansas: 40.0%
- New Mexico: 42.6%
Barriers & Challenges in Telehealth
What is the most common barrier for patients using telemedicine?
Over 70% of physicians report that patients struggling to use technology is the biggest barrier to using telemedicine.
The Economic Impact of The Telehealth Industry
How much is the telehealth industry worth?
The telehealth industry has grown rapidly, increasing from a valuation of $49.9 billion in 2019 and projected to reach $459.8 billion by 2030.
How much money could telehealth save the U.S. healthcare system?
Telehealth technologies could save the U.S. healthcare system up to $305 billion annually by reducing emergency room visits, travel costs, and other inefficiencies.
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Sources
- Tanya Albert Henry. “New data details how telehealth use varies by physician specialty.” AMA. December 8, 2025.
- American Hospital Association. “Fact Sheet: Telehealth.” April 2025.
- Kelly L. Myrick, Ph.D. “Telemedicine Use Among Physicians by Physician Specialty: United States, 2021.” National Center for Health Statistics. February 2024.
- Julia Shaver. “The State of Telehealth Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.” National Library of Medicine. April 2022.
- Data.CMS.gov. “Medicare Telehealth Trends.”
- Matej Mikulic. “Telemedicine – statistics and facts.” Statista. December 17, 2025.
- ONC. “Use of Telemedicine among Office-Based Physicians, 2021.” March 2023.
- Telehealth.HHS.gov. “Telehealth Trends.”
- Jacqueline W. Lucas, B.A., M.P.H. “Telemedicine Use Among Adults: United States, 2021.” National Center for Health Statistics. October 2022.
- Christopher Alban, MD. “Insurance Type Is the Top Predictor of Telehealth Use as Adoption Levels Off Long-Term.” Epic Research. June 16, 2022.
- Sean Roy. “Comprehensive List of 150+ Telehealth Statistics You Need to Know About.” Dialog Health.