As physicians and other clinicians in Generation Z make their way into healthcare, there are numerous ways that they are shifting the culture of medicine, according to an opinion article published in Medscape July 9.
Here are 10 takeaways from the article:
1. “We’re already seeing a shift in expectations and practice patterns that mirror many of the values this generation brings: work-life balance, transparency and a desire for a more human-centered model of medicine,” Corrin McCloskey, executive director of heart and vascular services at Tanner Health System in Carrollton, Ga., who works with cardiologists of different generations, told Medscape. She added that while the perception from older generations is that Gen Z is less hardworking, the truth is that younger generations are asserting different ideas about what “hard work” may actually look like.
2. For example, incoming physicians may be more likely to seek positions where they do not have to be on call 24 hours a day, and may choose employment over starting their own practice.
3. Gen Z also places more emphasis on self-care, which, while in some ways contributes to older generations’ stereotypes, may be a positive change for healthcare workers.
“I do think that there is a general momentum toward recognizing that better cared for physicians make for better cared for patients,” said Lena Volpe, MD, a second-year resident in obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, who described herself to Medscape as “in between a Millennial and Gen Z.”
4. Gen Z is also more cognizant of physician burnout as a serious issue, Dr. Volpe said. “Gen Z is focused on the solutions — not just a wellness retreat, yoga class or pizza party, but how we can better structure our programs and change our expectations for what we will be as attending physicians and medical students.”
5. Gen Z physicians are also more likely to incorporate technology and mobile apps into their care. “We think about it from an efficiency standpoint. How can we take this process that’s working but may be inefficient and make it better? With each generation, technology is more and more integrated into our lives, and we’re catching up with that in our work,” Dr. Volpe said.
6. Newer generations are also more resistant to traditional hierarchies and willing to push for change, according to the author.
“I turned 18 in 2016, and every election I’ve voted in has been incredibly consequential,” said Grace Akatsu, an MD/PhD student at the University of Colorado in Denver. “My whole young adulthood has been ‘unprecedented times,’ but they’re not unprecedented times to me.” They added that Gen Z has witnessed significant upheavals in healthcare, politics and technology.
7. Gen Z’s experience with social upheaval also makes them more open to the idea that systems are moldable. Dr. Volpe cited recent years’ uptick in resident physician unions as evidence of this trend.
8. Gen Z is also more supportive of changes in how physicians interact with patients, and place more emphasis on transparency and patient empowerment. “I think we are supporting patients better in advocating for themselves,” said Dr. Volpe. “For example, doctors and healthcare workers turn to social media to raise awareness about specific conditions and make information easier to find.”
9. This emphasis on patient empowerment also marks a shift away from paternalism in medicine, Akatsu said. “Even 10 years ago, it was more common to tell a patient, ‘You need this test,’ and not necessarily elaborate more,” they said. “Now there’s more collaborating with the patient and participating in decision-making and info-sharing, like, ‘Here’s what I’m thinking. Let’s work on building this relationship and this rapport so we can improve your health together. It’s not just me giving you orders.'”
10. Gen Z is also more engaged with mental health concerns and support for both providers and patients. “I think my generation really made a breakthrough around decreasing the stigma around mental illness and seeking treatment for mental health,” Dr. Volpe said. “Working 100 hours a week in residency is not conducive to mental health … especially in training. I do feel physicians and people in healthcare, my peers, understand mental health is a critical part of physical health.”
