*Image from Fierce, new brand and tagline for PaceMate™
Fierce is in the middle of an exciting new project naming, branding and launching a new telehealth brand. As we continue to do our research on behalf of the client, we come across a LOT of fascinating articles. “How Millennials are Changing the Healthcare Experience” was particularly interesting as it demonstrates once again the power of this generation. Just yesterday we shared on the blog the way this generation and their expectations are also shaping other industries like CPG and restaurant brands like Pizza Hut around the world. Trust is huge and trust is hard to find these days in healthcare. If you aren’t your own patient advocate, it can be confusing and sometimes even life threatening to navigate. This article was based on a global survey of over 3,000 participants done by Dr. Tony Oliva of Nuance Communications. Here were some of the findings below.
Social media is playing a role:
One key finding is that 70 percent of Millennials select their doctors based on referrals from family and friends, whereas only 41 percent of those over age 65 do so.
What’s more, 51 percent of patients over 65 express dissatisfaction with their care directly to their doctors, while 60 percent of Millennials shout out their unsatisfactory experiences to their friends.
Unlikely to hear from Millennials directly, providers face a new challenge with them, for the survey also revealed this generation is likely to trust feedback from their social networks.
Millennials are going digital before choosing their doctors.
Not surprisingly, the survey revealed that Millennials are also more likely to seek out healthcare information online, with more than 54 percent reportedly doing so before even seeing a doctor.
“When I needed to find a new physician, I looked for a doctor within my insurance network and then turned to online reviews,” says 25-year-old patient Kay Zimmermann. “Based on the comments, I ruled out several doctors, including one I was originally considering because someone mentioned they felt rushed and treated like a paycheck during their appointment.”
Dr. Oliva says, “Healthcare organizations need to find ways to help physicians optimize time spent with their patients and to protect their reputations.”
As we are learning every day, healthcare is changing radically. Telemedicine will also be influenced by the millennial generation and we are preparing our client for these influences as they get ready to enter the marketplace. To learn more, visit www.pacemate.com when the site launches.
Read the entire article here: http://news.yahoo.com/millennials-changing-healthcare-experience-161807083.html
