The age of opportunity – Future Health Index report 2020

Responses from almost 3000 younger healthcare professionals

As the first global survey of its kind, the Future Health Index 2020 report features intriguing insights into the next generation of healthcare professionals all under age 40, a group that will form the majority of the healthcare workforce over the next 20 years. The highlights below refer to the global data. For the Singapore data, please download the Singapore report. The research explores this group’s expectations around technology, training and job satisfaction, and the reality of their experience as healthcare professionals.

Scroll down to discover the global highlights

As the first global survey of its kind, the Future Health Index 2020 report features intriguing insights into the next generation of healthcare professionals all under age 40, a group that will form the majority of the healthcare workforce over the next 20 years. The highlights below refer to the global data. For the Singapore data, please download the Singapore report. The research explores this group’s expectations around technology, training and job satisfaction, and the reality of their experience as healthcare professionals.

Scroll down to discover the highlights

Download the Singapore report

Exploring the gaps in healthcare education and training

Younger healthcare professionals see four key gaps in their career relating to: skills, knowledge, data and expectations.

Skills

Many feel their medical education did not prepare them for certain aspects of their career

_44%

Say their medical education has not prepared them at all for business administration tasks

Knowledge

How much younger healthcare professionals knew about value-based care

78%

Only knew it by name/a little/nothing at all

Some younger healthcare professionals say they are overwhelmed by digital patient data. Many say the reality of their career does not live up to their hopes and expectations.

Data

_35%

Don’t know how to use digital patient data to inform patient care

_35%

Are overwhelmed by the amount of digital patient data

Expectations

41%

Disagree or neither agree nor disagree that the reality of their career lives up to their hopes and expectations

> Download the full report to discover more insights

This generation says the biggest change needed to leverage healthcare data is fixing problems that impair the smooth running of digital health technologies such as interoperability, data accuracy and security.

_58%

Improved interoperability between platforms

_57%

Improved accuracy of data

_54%

Improved data security

> Download the full report to discover more insights

Creating the ideal healthcare working environment

Smarter and more flexible working environments are key to attracting talent.

Other than salary, factors around collaboration, autonomy and technology are important when choosing a hospital or practice in which to work.

_89%

Workplace culture

_88%

Latest equipment / technologies

_79%

Reputation

_75%

Work/life balance

Percentages are NETS.
Base (unweighted): Total younger healthcare professionals excluding those who selected 'salary - important to you' (n=663)

> Download the full report to discover more insights

Addressing the gap

This data gives a clear mandate to healthcare leaders to respond to the concerns of this younger generation of healthcare professionals. It highlights three core areas to address urgently:

Education and training

Administrative and business management
Use and interpretation of technology and data
Principles of value-based care.

Technology

Investment in data sharing technologies
Harnessed to improve work-life balance and outcomes
Greater product interoperability.

Culture

Opinion acknowledgement
Involvement in business operations
Flexible working

Download the Singapore report

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The Future Health Index is commissioned by Philips.

The 2020 study comprises original research via a survey of 2,867 healthcare professionals under the age of 40 years old across 15 countries: Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa and the United States of America.

See the full methodology and list of sources