The healthcare industry is changing as younger generations now demand a more flexible, efficient, and convenient healthcare system. Research has shown that each generation starting from the boomers, to the millennials, to the gen-x and the gen-z have had an impact on healthcare in some form or the other. We are here to show you how each generation has changed or will change the healthcare industry in the near future.

Numerous surveys have shown that younger people are driving changes across the healthcare industry, leveraging the technology that they use every day. Here are some of the biggest ways that each generation has changed or will change the healthcare industry.

1.    Increasing Demand for Electronic Prescriptions

Younger consumers today want 24/7 online access to products, services, and information. They are more accustomed to convenience and nearly 68% of millennials expect brands to provide them with omnichannel accessibility for consistency across different devices. Around 24% of Gen Zers and 13% of millennials were unhappy with the convenience of the location or the channel of their current healthcare provider. In contrast, only 4% of baby boomers and Gen Xers agreed with that.

2.    Greater Interaction with Online Doctors

Around 39% of millennials are willing to use virtual care to interact with their healthcare provider and 29% of them have already done so. Speaking with an online doctor is more convenient and less time-consuming than visiting them in person. The boomers account for 25% of the individuals who want to interact with their doctors online. At the same time, a whopping 60% of Gen Zers consider it an obligation to have an online appointment with their doctor.

3.    Younger Generations Want Online Access to Test Results

The younger generations are the ones ruling the roost nowadays and are more likely to use healthcare providers that offer access to test results online or through mobile. Over 44% of millennials consider this to be a priority for them, compared to just 29% of baby boomers. Millennials tend to spend 8 hours each day on their devices and Gen Z 10-plus hours, therefore, it’s not a surprise to learn that online/mobile access to test results has become so influential. Millennials also check their phones 100 times a day, while a Gen Zer checks their phone every 3 minutes.

4.    More Freedom to Book Appointments Online

Around 74% of millennials felt that booking appointments online was very important for them. Around 64% of all patients book medical appointments digitally, as booking, canceling, and rescheduling meetings with a healthcare provider through an app or website is quicker than calling a clinic. It also eliminates the risk of being placed on hold or talking to different members of staff. Consumers expect the simplicity and convenience they get from other industries in healthcare, and as younger generations are well-versed in booking events through social media, healthcare providers must follow suit.

Each generation has had a transformative effect on the healthcare industry. The baby boomers are the first ones to give real accountability to healthcare providers, followed by Gen Xers who give priority to technology when it comes to meeting healthcare professionals. The Millennials are the ones that have brought about a major change in the industry, and the Gen Zers are the ones that are throwing their weight around for more technology to be introduced in the healthcare industry.