• Younger patients show preference for self-service health
• Telcos should pay attention to what consumers are asking for
• Even non-mission-critical healthcare apps need reliable networks

Consumers in the US are showing a preference for digital healthcare over more traditional methods and that means one thing for the telecoms sector: the need for uber-reliable networks.

Just over half of US consumers surveyed by Accenture recently said they use a wearable device or mobile app to manage their lifestyle and healthcare issues, while 53% use virtual nurses to monitor health conditions, medications and vital signs.

Accenture's survey focuses on healthcare providers and the growing pressure on them to provide what patients, or indeed consumers, if you prefer, want. "Younger generations are more likely to choose medical providers with strong digital capabilities," the firm notes. But telcos should really pay attention to this too.

While many healthcare apps are not mission-critical – let's face it, it's annoying, but not life-threatening if your digital pedometer or calorie-intake app loses count – some are, such as heart monitors and so forth. And then there are many in between, where the app or device is rendered useless without a reliable infrastructure.

In addition, younger patients are keen to access test results, request prescriptions, and manage appointment bookings in a digital way. That opens up an opportunity for those who can implement and manage those kinds of systems.

In the telecoms industry we have been talking about these types of future opportunity for what feels like forever. But Accenture's study shows that the future is close at hand.

Original press release below

February 12, 2019

Millennial and Gen Z Consumers Paving the Way for Non-Traditional Care Models, Accenture Study Finds

ORLANDO, Fla.; Feb. 12, 2019 – Unsatisfied with healthcare’s status quo, millennial and Gen Z consumers in the U.S. are paving the way for non-traditional care models, such as retail clinics, virtual and digital services, according to results of an Accenture survey released today at HIMSS19.

The survey of more than 2,000 U.S. consumers found striking differences in satisfaction levels between younger and older healthcare consumers, just as millennials in the U.S. become the largest living generation and hold the most power to influence future healthcare models.

Demanding more than the status quo

When considering traditional in-person care, millennials (ages 22 to 38 in 2019) were two to three times more likely than baby boomers (ages 55 to 73) to be dissatisfied with: the convenience of appointment times (16 percent vs. 6 percent); the location/channel of care (13 percent vs. 4 percent); the effectiveness of the care (12 percent vs. 4 percent); and whether the doctor prescribed the medication they expected (10 percent vs. 5 percent). Gen Zers (ages 18 to 21) are even unhappier, with 32 percent dissatisfied with care effectiveness, and 24 percent dissatisfied with the medication prescribed, the location/channel of care, cost of treatment and responsiveness to follow-up questions.

Shifting to virtual, retail clinics, digital care

Slightly more than half (55 percent) of Gen Zers and two-thirds (67 percent) of millennials said they have a primary care physician, compared with 84 percent of baby boomers. Without a primary care physician, some millennials are seeking some types of routine medical services from retail clinics (41 percent) and virtual care (39 percent).

These types of non-traditional methods of care have made rapid inroads across all age groups in recent years, with the survey finding that nearly one-third (29 percent) of respondents have used some form of virtual care — up from 21 percent in 2017 — and almost half (47 percent) have used a walk-in/retail clinic. Further, consumers would prefer non-traditional methods over traditional ones for certain basic medical needs, including cold/virus treatment (65 percent vs. 48 percent), flu shots (62 percent vs. 54 percent) and checking vitals (59 percent vs. 54 percent).

Rising adoption of digital self-service

The use of digital for self-service healthcare is also on the rise. Half (51 percent) of all respondents said they use a wearable or mobile app to manage their lifestyle and healthcare conditions and more than half (53 percent) use virtual nurses to monitor health conditions, medications and vital signs.

Similarly, younger generations are more likely to choose medical providers with strong digital capabilities, such as those who provide mobile or online access to test results (44 percent of millennials vs. 29 percent of baby boomers), electronic prescription refills (42 percent vs. 30 percent), and booking, changing or cancelling appointments online (40 percent vs. 19 percent) .

“As more patients take control of their own healthcare, provider organizations must offer meaningful choices that fulfill the needs of all generational groups,” said Kaveh Safavi, M.D., J.D., head of Accenture’s global Health practice. “Providers and payers who stay one step ahead of the shifts and deliver what patients are looking for will be the ones to earn loyalty, navigate disruption and be strongly positioned as the future unfolds.”

Accenture 2019 Digital Health Consumer Survey** from **Accenture

For more information on the Accenture 2019 Digital Health Consumer Survey, please visit: www.accenture.com/DigitalHealthSurvey2019.

Methodology

As part of a seven-country study highlighting preferences and use of traditional and non-traditional healthcare delivery — including walk-in or retail clinics, virtual health, on-demand services and digital therapeutics — Accenture surveyed 2,338 U.S. healthcare consumers (ages 18+) between November and December 2018. Using cohorts defined by Pew Research, respondents belonged to one of five age groups: Gen Z (ages 18 to 21 in 2019), millennials (ages 22 to 38), Gen X (ages 39-54), Baby Boomers (ages 55 to 73) and Silent Generation (ages 74 to 91). Where relevant, select findings are trended from Accenture’s research in 2016 and 2017.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions — underpinned by the world’s largest delivery network — Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With 469,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.