Old people are online, too

The Millenials are called the Net Generation because of their (our) prowess on the information superhighway.  But since so few of them seek health care help online, why would a health care delivery organization waste time in creating an authentic online experience?

The result is that many health care delivery organizations’ online strategies suck (my opinion, it should be a fact though) (by the way, do they even have strategies?).  But wait!  Here is some interesting information provided by Pew Internet and American Life Project on health care decision makers:

Generation X (those ages 33 to 44) is the most likely group to bank (67%), shop (80%) and look for health information online (82%). (emphasis enthusiastically added)

Freak!

(In the spirit of your favorite game show): That’s not all, Jimmy!  Look at these data on heavy health care users use of the web to find health information:

• Younger Boomers: 74% of the 79% who use the internet
• Older Boomers: 81% of the 70% who use the internet
• Silent Generation: 70% of the 56% who use the internet
• GI Generation: 67% of the 31% who use the internet

At a time when low cost everything is in vogue, updating (creating?) your organization’s online strategy is a genuine opportunity.  Get crackin’!

(Pew link via Ted Eytan, MD)

Improving Health

A boon to Health 2.0 and health in general:

But before they can benefit from online government, many Americans must get online. The US ranks 15th out of 30 industrialized nations in the percentage of citizens with access to the Internet. Obama promises to make Internet access as commonplace as telephone service.

With high-speed internet access all patients will have access to online interactions (and not just email!) with providers.  Patients could be monitored from home if they need it.  Patients would have access to healthy living information.  Patients could manage their PHRs, find doctors, and compare quality of hospitals.  The benefits of universal access for health care are nearly endless.