Self-entitled, self-absorbed and selfie-obsessed. These are just a few adjectives critics use to describe the millennial generation of today's 16-to-36-year-olds, born between 1980 and 2000. Born in the early 80s, I both understand the criticism levied against my generation and simultaneously empathize with many of my peers who were raised in the digital revolution and, thus, see the world differently. The unique and, at times, bewildering views of millennials pose challenges to the health care industry and to the U.S. workforce, which, as of 2015, is now primarily composed of millennials.
So, who are today's millennials, and how can mid-and-late career physicians engage millennial employees, attract millennial patients and impress potential millennial partners? Before we can fully understand millennials, we must first understand the results of studies about millennials — their technology, their potential impact on electronic health records (EHR) and their values.
