EMBRACING CHANGE
Online Health Care , Promising but Not There Yet
There ’ s a focus on the four main generations of adults right now : baby boomers , generation X , millennials and generation Z . In workspaces , we have tailored our approaches to these generations . In health care , we are still trying to find the right way to do that , to make a better generational fit . Baby boomers are more accustomed to in-person appointments and having a conversation with someone on the phone , rather than waiting on hold . Gen X is accustomed to in-person appointments but could do a virtual visit if it works with their schedule . They are comfortable making phone calls and texting . Millennials are looking for convenience and would prefer to do things virtually , whether it is making the appointment or having the appointment . They know how to make phone calls , but they would rather be texting . Lastly , Gen Z . They could do everything from their phones – make an appointment from their phone , do the appointment on their phone and then text you . Don ’ t expect a phone call .
10 LOUISVILLE MEDICINE by MONALISA TAILOR , MD
All of you already know this . One of the ways health care has tried to innovate in the online world is appealing to the Gen X , millennial and Gen Z group . They are marketing convenience with virtual visits with “ doctors at your fingertips .” The main ones that you have likely seen advertised are the companies hims and hers . They have flashy ads , particular product packaging and their own pharmacy . They market directly to the patient and advise they can help with mental health , dermatology and now weight loss . A millennial patient of mine recently contacted hims to help with performance anxiety . He was able to get in touch with them quickly , and they prescribed him propranolol . The appointment and the prescription cost the patient about $ 70 . It only contained 12 pills , however . It ’ s the same medicine I would have given him , but they up-charged the prescription . Now with weight loss injections , they are doing compounded vials of semaglutide . This is only ok because the medicine is on the FDA shortage list . It ’ s an appealing option for patients , but it is not the real medicine , and they may not be able to lose weight . Additionally , if they need assistance with the medication , they may not receive adequate info to draw the dose from the vial . As a continuity provider you may spot such meds