Millennials have long been the center of attention of virtually every industry there is. But since Gen Z is nowhere with their incredible spending power, everyone has their eyes on what they want and need. They prove to be a bit more demanding than the older generations, especially Gen X and Baby Boomers. If there is one thing that sets them apart from these older generations and a little similar to millennials, that would be their expectation for ease of access. We can associate this with them being digital natives and the fact that are living in a fully-connected world.
When it comes to the healthcare industry, Gen Z has distinct behaviors that differentiate them from others. The following are just some things Gen Z does that are changing how the healthcare industry.
They Value Recommendations Both Online and Offline
Before any Gen Z picks a healthcare provider, clinic, or hospital, they do their research first. They are likely to ask for recommendations and would research local providers before choosing. They would look into reviews and the services offered and are not afraid to ask questions before they set an appointment.
Businesses found that Generation Z also takes family, friends, and their favorite influencer’s recommendations to heart. They trust the people they follow on different social media platforms. Gen Z would be willing to try out products and services advertised or used by these people.
Aside from these, Gen Z is often in online forums, asking questions and answering inquiries as well. They love to share what they know and are not afraid to voice out their concerns. If their peers are to recommend anything, they would go into investigation mode before availing of a product or service.
They Are Willing to Try Alternative Health Options
Many Gen Z is not satisfied with the kind of quality of healthcare offered in many healthcare facilities. They are also willing to try other alternative healthcare options. This is since they are not convinced that traditional healthcare is the only effective way to handle their issues.
Young people are not flocking hospitals and doctor’s office not because they don’t trust medical professionals. They just think that such visits are often inconvenient. They want more value for their money and more personalized care that many traditional healthcare facilities fail to give to their patients.
Hence, Gen Z can be found experimenting with other ways to solve their healthcare issues. Take chiropractic medicine, for instance. It’s been around for many years but only gained popularity after chiropractors started sharing oddly satisfying videos showing how they do it and how relieved their patients were after each session.
Gen Z is likely to try to like alternative medication due to its effectiveness. Chiropractic may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But this type of alternative medicine is appealing to Gen Z becomes it is the current hype on social media, and it is not your ordinary way of relieving pain. They are likely to try and ask a chiropractor after an auto accident to heal their stiff neck, back pain, shoulder pain, or even dizziness and migraine.
They Value Privacy and Are into Mobile Healthcare
According to news, Gen Z is more likely to report mental health struggles than older generations. But they have other ideas when seeking health from the professionals. Since they still value their privacy, fewer are making appointments to see mental health experts in person.
Today’s young generation prefers online consultations. They would rather communicate online and through their mobile phone. This led experts to allow online scheduling or appointments and provide virtual consultation services to patients.
Generation Z is also often seen using their smartphones. So, mental health apps were launched to give mental healthcare access to these digital natives. These help young people monitor their mental health, offer different ways to effectively handle stress and other techniques to maintain healthier mental health.
They Want Convenience When Monitoring Their Health
Some people call Gen Zs the new Wellness Generation. This is since they value their health and want their peers to start living a healthier lifestyle. They embrace technology to help them better monitor their health and progress.
Now, Gen Z makes use of technology to track their progress. They use different apps and wearable technologies to monitor their weight, their diet, even the number of steps they take each day. Since they grew up with technology, it is easier for them to adapt to new technologies geared to improving their health.
In a nutshell, Gen Z wants to be healthier both physically and mentally. They use technology to achieve their health goals and expect healthcare professionals to do the same, so they can better avail themselves of their services. They are also embracing alternative healthcare methods if it meant satisfying their healthcare needs. This shows that the healthcare industry needs to continue stepping up their game to continuously provide ease of access to these tech-loving consumers.
