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Gen Y: The next patient wave

The group of patients who are now college students and in pediatricians' offices will have their own approach to health care. Here's how to be prepared.

By Julie A. Jacob, amednews staff. April 22/29, 2002.

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If you will be a practicing physician for at least another 10 years, Generation Y will be part of your life.

Gen Y -- people born between 1977 and 1995 (now ages 7 to 25) -- is the largest demographic group since the baby boomers. And they'll likely have just as much influence on society and culture.

• Gen Y patients will be the most well-informed and assertive generation of patients ever.
• Gen Y will expect their physicians to use the latest technological tools.
• Gen Y is used to people paying a lot of attention to them and will expect their physicians to do the same.
• Gen Y will influence the direction of health insurance in the years to come.

Generation Y is making an impact.

"They're already starting to put demands on the system, certainly on the pediatric health system," said Claire Raines, co-author of Generations at Work: Managing the Clash of Veterans, Boomers, Xers & Nexters in Your Workplace. "They're a huge generation, and the size of a cohort tends to correlate with their power."

This power -- and their demands -- will only increase as the group shifts into adulthood.

"They will have high expectations of their doctor and thus will be seen as demanding patients," Raines said

"They will be going to the doctor with detailed notes and a blueprint of 'Here's what I've read, here's what I want to do, and these options,' " said Bruce Tulgan, co-author of Managing Generation Y.

It's already started, said Kimbra Bell, MD, an internist with the Northwestern Memorial Physicians Group in Chicago. The oldest Generation Y patients, adults in their early 20s, are "very educated, assertive and concerned about their health care and learning more." [...]