Submitted by CareCloud Contributor
Their 1960s counterculture mantra was, “Turn on, tune in, drop out,” and Baby Boomers today are turning on their devices, tuning into a variety of online channels for health-related information, and (virtually) dropping in on their providers. CareCloud’s 2016 Patient Experience Index found that Baby Boomers are more likely than other age groups to leverage digital healthcare tools to access medical records, contact providers with follow-up questions, and request prescription refills.
While Millennials are inarguably the most connected age group, the technological generation gap has largely been bridged by broadband Internet and the ubiquity of smartphones. According to the Pew Research Center, 83% of those 51-59 years old are online, 66% have broadband at home, 59% have a smartphone, and 35% have a tablet computer. Among those 60-69 years old, 76% are online, 60% have broadband, 46% have smartphones, and 41% have a tablet. Two out of three Boomers are using their high-speed Internet and devices to, among other things, engage in social media.
A 2015 study examined the relationship between Baby Boomers’ social media engagement and their eHealth literacy – a skillset identified a decade ago that encompasses seeking, finding, understanding, and evaluating health information, and then using the knowledge gained to address health issues. The research found that Boomers – especially women – routinely tap into interactive social networks in order to obtain and share knowledge relating to health. Given that 60% of those aged 50-64 have at least one chronic health condition and are often involved in managing the healthcare of their children or parents, it follows that the 9 out of 10 Boomers who use social media post, tweet, and comment about health issues. Indeed, the study found that Baby Boomers who interactively engage online exhibit greater eHealth literacy than those who do not.
Taking a step back, increasing eHealth literacy is the raison d’étre for the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) emphasis on the meaningful use of information technology to promote patient engagement. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has a stated ACA implementation strategy of utilizing health IT to “inform, engage, empower, and partner with patients to help improve their participation and outcomes.” Patient engagement tools that fuel eHealth literacy positively impact patient participation in their own health management and ultimately lower the cost of healthcare delivery.
From the perspective of a growing medical group, patient engagement both increases eHealth literacy and boosts staff productivity. When a Baby Boomer accesses their secure patient portal, for example, they can book appointments, review their medical records, communicate directly with their providers, and even pay their bill – completely bypassing administrative staff. That same patient, who came of age during the dawn of deep (offline) sharing, is more likely to readily relay their positive experiences to their online social circle.
As a group, Baby Boomers are focused on staying healthy even as they confront chronic medical conditions. Providing Boomers with digital healthcare tools increases their eHealth literacy while delivering the tailored experience and real-time connectedness they desire. It’s natural that they’re eager to embrace healthcare technology that enables direct communication with providers, effortless prescription refills, and lab results at their fingertips.
