Read on for a great encapsulation of what patients are looking for by UK physician, Dr. Zhong Wei Khor, with some additions and edits by SF physician and colleague in emergency medicine, Dr. Graham Walker.

The only thing Carte Clinics would add is that from experience working with millennials, and Gen X, and Boomer patients, that these expectations actually ring true across all ages. We think of this list as less generational and more reflective of values and lifestyle: being empowered and prioritizing health.

Curious what you think!

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I am a millennial doctor with a child. Let me weigh in.

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1. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞.

↳  When I am ill, I still want to know that I can see a clinician in person.

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2. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞.

↳  I don't wish to wait weeks to months to see a doctor or fill in a 10 page paper form just to sign up.

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3. 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞.

↳ If it helps me access better care faster. (especially for my child.)

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4. 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐬 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

↳  But I don't want it to be the only thing that contributes to my health.

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5. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧.

↳ Millennials are increasingly literate and do their research more on their health.  They want direct, honest communication from my doctor, even if it's hard to hear

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6. 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝.

↳  There are many good ways to authenticate identity nowadays remotely and on delivery.

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7. 𝐈 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬-𝐨𝐧, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞.

↳  Care that understand me and my history, not having to repeat myself again and again.

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8. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞.  

↳  I want to be taken seriously and not feel like "I'm not sick enough to matter" because I want to be healthy and stay healthy.

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9. 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡.

↳  As we grow older, health becomes more of a priority. Time and money are increasingly diverted for this.

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10. 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞.

↳ Just like any other technology that came before it. If it really helps, I am down for it.

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I hope the above helps any healthcare innovator understand what matters to us.

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Technology really helps but it is not the only thing that matters.

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In fact, a technology only approach may seem scalable and attractive as a business model, but it misses the point of what actual people really want.

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