Bridging the Gap
Teamwork and
technology are quickly replacing the concept of the one-man show. A recent news
briefing noted on the major differences between Baby Boomer Physicians and
even the doctors of Generation “X” versus the new hires of Generation “Y,” but
who will bridge the transitional gap? As younger physicians and pathologists continue
to join the work force, bringing all of the qualities of a generation with them,
medical professionals from all fields will have to adapt to survive.
“We need
doctors who ‘just’ practice medicine, but we also need these other doctors who
can improve medical care on the larger scale,” said Leana Wen, a resident in
emergency medicine at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital and
Massachusetts General Hospital, in an article
featured in ModernHealthcare.com.
Generation “Y,”
sometimes referred to as “Millennials,” characterizes a group of young medical
professionals with the ability to work as part of a medicinal team and adapt
with the advances of technology. The iPod generation. New physicians prefer “EMR
and smartphone apps” to solve problems with speed and precision as they tend to
patients. The biggest thing separating them, however, is the consistent effort
and desire to have a life outside of their work.
Wen discussed
the benefits of having a health professional with a well-balanced life, saying
that it’s, “better to have those taking care of you to take care of themselves
and their families.” In a Merritt-Hawkins survey noted
in the DarkDaily news release, young physicians were shown as “placing high
value on balancing career and personal life,” leading to a “Growing trend of
doctors who work part-time or on flexible hours” rather than a private practice
in which they would always be on-call.
While the
incoming generation largely believes that these new priorities will enhance and
improve their profession, some are not so eager. As first-year resident shifts
have been decreased from 24 hours to 16 and weekly hours have been cut down to
a maximum of 80, veteran doctors view new hires as disinterested and soft. Darrell
Kirch, MD, president of the Association of American Medical Colleagues, on the
other hand, argues that young doctors possess a “broader view” of both life and
the practice of medicine, calling it “a positive trend.”
“I see no
evidence that indicates their ethical commitment is any weaker, that they care
any less for patients,” Kirch continued.
The DarkDaily
news release projected the future role of Generation “X” physicians as “helping
medicine achieve clinical care that is of higher quality and more cost-effective”
through solo practices, while the aspirations of Generation “Y” lie in large,
specialized providers with the technology to advance their profession as a
whole. With clinical laboratories at the forefront of technological
advancement, have they already pioneered a trail that will usher in a new era
in medicine?