The “Why” Generation
By Paul McLeod, M.D., MED3OOO Chief Medical Executive
Currently, a great deal of effort is being spent on determining what healthcare services an individual within a given population may need. Programs like population health management, driven by value-based compensation, are being developed to implement evidence-based, cost-effective care that we hope will result in optimal patient outcomes at a reasonable price. We have come a long way in this journey and soon will have valuable genetic resources to improve patient outcomes and bring new meaning to the concept of “personalized” healthcare.
Another important question must also be addressed in the context of our first truly computer-savvy generation of patients: How will healthcare be delivered to individuals who expect to shop for all their needs from the comfort of their personal computer? The Y Generation is growing up in a global community. They chat and play games online with a diverse group of people from around the world. They expect immediate, 24-hour access to information and services via the internet. For them, healthcare is no exception. Our present system is flawed with paper charts, inefficient work flows, lack of information-sharing and inadequate access to our providers. This will be unacceptable to these young people. They will seek out physicians who reflect their values. The Y generation expects to shop, compare, communicate, and pay their providers online, yet they still value the personal touch from their doctors and would have no desire to replace them with a computer. Generation Y patients want to be deeply involved in their healthcare decisions and will make the commitment to be informed about their diseases or conditions. “Shared decision-making” for them will be the norm. Providers will be expected to answer questions about cost and outcomes candidly so that these patients can make informed choices. Transparency will be a competitive advantage for hospitals and physicians providing care to this “why” generation.
Finally, the Y Generation will look for providers who have real-time
point-of-service capabilities. They will not tolerate a wait at the front desk while your assistant calls to check eligibility. They will expect you to know what their co-pays or deductibles are and how much their portion will be. They will expect pricing information available up front, not after the visit, thus creating an expectation of service far above that currently provided by many healthcare systems.
MED3OOO understands the values and expectations of different generations of patients. We are working hard to develop services and technology infrastructure to support our physicians and their healthcare systems in meeting the needs of all their patients.
Click here for a printed version: Clinical Newsletter May 2008
The Clinical Advisory is a clinical publication from MED3OOO dedicated to informing physicians and clinical staff about tools and information to improve the quality of patient care.
Corporate Headquarters: MED3OOO, Inc., 680 Andersen Drive, Foster Plaza 10, Pittsburgh PA 15220. For more information on our clinical initiatives visit www.MED3000.com or contact Geoff Coleman at Geoff_Coleman@MED3000.com or 1-888-811-2411.
|
Generation Y Health Issues
The Gen Y’s are expected to be one of the first generations to take charge of understanding their health and wellness through the Internet. They have been “plugged in” since birth, growing up with the Internet, MySpace, and YouTube. This generation is also very comfortable giving their information away on the Internet and will have no problem sharing their personal medical history and conditions online.
And while they may go to visit the library more often than the GenXers ever did, their libraries are on the Internet and this is where they will go to solve their problems.
Health sites like DrDrew.com have been designed to be a streaming library of health issues for the Gen Y population, including information on eating disorders, depression/anxiety, drugs/alcohol, violence/abuse,
alternative medicine, effects of tobacco, weight loss, pregnancy, and other health conditions. The site features Dr. Drew’s live television interviews with celebrities discussing health issues, a Dr.’s Office page where you can blog with Dr. Drew, and a community events page that will feature upcoming discussions on health-related topics.
DrKoop.com is another site to which the Y Generation often turns for health and wellness information, products, and services. These sites boast 2 million registered users, many of them Gen Y’s interacting with health and wellness programs daily to empower them to stay fit and healthy.
The Gen Y’s are skeptical and have grown up experiencing corporate scandal, an unfavorable war, AIDS, rising healthcare costs, global warming, rising fuel costs, and
9-11. They don’t often trust companies or advertisers that have saturated them with messages. They are looking for honest, real information to help them solve their problems and keep them healthy.
Is the generation gap a growth opportunity? - From the April ACP Internist, copyright © 2008 by the American College of Physicians. Many older doctors think young students and residents are lazy, self-interested and pampered because they don’t want work to interfere with other parts of their life. Young doctors and students, meanwhile, consider their mentors to be harsh, uncompromising and unaware of how the world has changed since they were medical students. Read more about the generation gap including a guide to the new intergenerational workplace by practice management consultants Carolyn Pickles and John F. Jessop for managing generational diversity in medical practices.
Globalization and Generation Y -
Dr. Maurice A. Ramirez is the Founder and President of the consulting firm High Alert, LLC, and Founding Chairperson of the American Board of Disaster Medicine, as well as serves the nation as a Senior Physician-Federal Medical Officer in the National Disaster Medical System. Dr. Ramirez has a new book: You Can Survive Anything, Anywhere, Every Time. In this article he discusses how Generation Y will globalize the market through the use of the internet and social networking services.
Seven Questions About... Generation Y - By Myra Golden.
Myra Golden is an award-winning professional speaker and principal of Myra Golden Seminars, LLC, a customer service training firm serving clients in food and beverage, banking, healthcare, hospitality, and other industries. Her client list includes McDonald’s, Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, Michelin Tires, Pirelli, and Procter & Gamble, among many others. In this article, she defines seven important points to understanding and managing Generation Y.
Patient Recall
Using the M3/IQ™ technology and our M3/Connect technology, we can work with you to identify those patients in your practice who should be recalled for needed services. If you would like to discuss either these reports or an automated patient recall process using M3/Connect technology, please contact Geoff Coleman at: Geoff_Coleman@MED3000.com.
|
