Want to Bring in More Millennial Patients? Here’s How

Like every generation, Millennials (defined as Americans born between 1981 and 1996) are inclined to share certain preferences and characteristics that might seem out-of-step with other generations. The thing is, Millennials will become the largest demographic segment of the U.S. population this year, according to Pew Research. So, at this point, consider they might not be the ones who are “out of step” if you view those preferences as counter to the way you do business. Becker’s Health IT & CIO Report came up with a list of the top attributes Millennial-age patients want from a healthcare provider. For one thing, according to that article, Millennials prefer walk-in clinics to standard primary care provider. They’re also more likely to make healthcare decisions based on online advice and reviews compared with other generations. They want to know how much their visit and care are going to cost before they commit. And good luck to you if you don’t have apps that allow patients to schedule a visit or get follow-up information. The bottom line is: Think what you will of Millennials as a group, but disregard their preferences at your peril. At the same time, bear in mind that this same block of the population has been the largest segment of the U.S. workforce since 2017. So, if you’re able to drop your possibly incorrect perceptions about Millennials as potential employees, you can reap the advantages of hiring staff who relate to their peers—your patients. An article in this month’s issue of JUCM addresses this very topic. You can read The Millennial Conundrum: Fostering an Engaged Multigenerational Urgent Care Workforce here. (When you do, don’t forget to take the associated CME test.)