The healthcare workforce is evolving constantly, all while growing younger with each graduating class from medical school. It’s just a fact of life that newer hires will likely be part of a different generation than the most seasoned physicians. And while there are many positives to recruiting the best and brightest talent, many facilities struggle with creating teams of professionals spanning many age groups. Today you’ll find millennials, Gen Xers, and Baby Boomers all working side by side to produce the best patient outcomes possible, but not without some conscious teamwork! Here we’ll discuss ways physicians and their facilities are bridging generational divides in medicine for the better:
Bridging Generational Divides in Medicine
Each generation is different — the world they grew up in, their education and the culture of medicine today all affect their perspectives. It’s likely that members from each have their own priorities, goals, and expectations of themselves and others. Of course, it’s unfair to categorize people and their approach to medicine based on their age, however, there are some generalities to mention before cooperation is made easier.
One Generation to the Next
Baby Boomers often have the most experience in the field, but can be slowed down by new systems as they’re implemented. Providing these professionals hands-on training and time to understand new devices or software is usually very beneficial. At the same time, these physicians have an enormous potential to mentor younger team members to provide information that would otherwise take many years to acquire.
Gen Xers have carved their path in medicine and finally reached a sustainable schedule and lifestyle — one commonly built around family. Having the ability to share their feedback and advance their skill sets are some of the most common values shared. In many cases, Gen Xers make great liaisons for Baby Boomers and Millennials.
At this point, the Millennial generation includes a range of people from 18-35 years of age. When we think about how much the world has changed since the early 80’s, it’s sometimes hard to pinpoint just who exactly this generation is. Nonetheless, Millennials usually expect the most current technology and are often eager to make suggestions for improving workplace processes. Most want to make a difference while finding a good balance between work and personal life.
So how exactly is bridging generational divides in medicine even possible? Really, it starts with the recognition of commonalities all age groups possess. No matter your generational designation, listening to an individual’s preferences and approach to medicine helps immensely. Making an effort to listen comes through asking questions like:
- What engages you at work?
- What common challenges do you face?
- How do you prefer to receive feedback?
- How do you prefer to receive recognition?
Determining how physicians of all ages think and work ultimately helps when bridging generational divides in medicine.
Promote Leadership Roles and Opportunities
Members of each generation definitely share one thing about their career in medicine — the desire to grow personally and professionally. Most driven-physicians strive to develop their leadership skills, both formally and informally. For the most experienced Baby Boomer physicians, being able to mentor and lead younger generations to success is incredibly fulfilling. This is even an option for most Gen Xers, in addition to Millennials having the opportunities to share their perspectives and recent experience.
Whether it’s through volunteer opportunities, finding new ideas to implement for a team, or just stepping up into a supporting role, leadership is one thing all generations desire and can benefit from.
Really, bridging generational divides in medicine is about identifying the common values and goals held by all healthcare professionals. While each generation will provide unique perspectives and experiences, all can agree on producing the best patient care possible. Remember to emphasize the unique skill sets and interests of your multi-generational healthcare team and bring everyone together with a “people-first” mentality!
Any advice you’ve acquired for bridging generational divides in medicine? Share your comments below!
