How Millennials Want to Receive Healthcare
Recent studies show that millennials are more likely than previous generations to forgo regular visits with a primary care physician. The most common reasons cited include the high cost of healthcare, a general lack of time, and the fact that many millennials do not yet have any pressing medical concerns.
On the flip side, millennials tend to be more open to receiving healthcare services in an urgent care setting. In general, they trust their peers and technology to help them overcome health issues and often search for tips and insight on the internet or social media before scheduling an appointment with a doctor. Some popular tools that millennials use when making healthcare decisions include:
WebMD & Other Online Diagnostic Tools
An online database of health and wellness information, WebMD is a free, convenient, reliable, and widely accessible resource for everything from finding a doctor to evaluating drug prices, as well as news articles and opinion pieces from experts. Through the Symptom Checker feature, a user can enter symptoms and receive a list of related conditions. The downside is that the list will be very comprehensive, including conditions that may be life-threatening or extremely rare.
When used appropriately as the first line of defense when a health issue arises, WebMD can be very helpful and informative. However, without the guidance of a qualified medical professional who has firsthand knowledge of the situation, a user can potentially be led to the worst possible conclusion, creating unnecessary worry and stress.
Health-Related Apps
Fitness, nutrition, diabetes management, and other health-related apps are now readily available to track everything from workouts to caloric intake to blood sugar levels. For instance, the Fitbit tracker — a smartwatch with personal fitness-tracking capabilities — compiles information about a user’s heart rate, sleep quality, steps walked in a day, and other health metrics, which the user can then access via a mobile app. This type of information can help users enhance their health by staying active, even if they can’t afford a gym membership or get to a gym on a regular basis. Health apps can be very useful tools, especially for tech-loving millennials.
South Tampa Immediate Care
At South Tampa Immediate Care in Tampa, FL, we welcome millennials who would like to see a doctor. Our walk-in clinic is open every day during extended hours and we never require appointments.
