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50 Medical Construction & Design | J U LY/AUGUST 2017 | MCDM AG.COM BY REGAN HENRY According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Millennials were the largest generation in the workforce by the end of 2015 and will represent nearly 75 percent of the workforce by 2030. The 80 million American Millennials, aka Generation Y-ers and often characterized by being born between 1980 and 2000, are the largest age group in American history. Consequently, the face of the clinician workforce is evolving. Criticized by Time maga- zine as the "MeMeMe genera- tion," this new workforce is more than what they've been labeled as, narcissistic and entitled, they are also optimis- tic and entrepreneurial. They were raised in the "informa- tion revolution" in which the promise of technology was limitless and carry with them an eagerness to challenge the status quo. Healthcare systems seeking to attract and retain younger employees will need to exam- ine the design of their facilities. This new generation of clini- cians is seeking the following characteristics from their place of work: Engaging Millennials are often uncom- fortable with rigid organi- zational hierarchies and the division of information into silos. They prefer work environments which encour- age the 3 C's: communication, collaboration and connectivity across experience and title. The 3 C's may be encouraged by the purposeful inclusion of hubs into a hospital space program designed to promote clinician interaction. Clinician hubs may take the shape of a private lounge, cafeteria or outdoor area — a space dedicated to clinicians, away from patients and fami- lies, to allow for open dialogue without running the risk of a HIPAA violation. Clinician hubs should be engag- ing, comfortable and stimulating environ- ments with vibrant colors, fun graphics and adaptable furniture to encourage use. Flexible Millennials seek fl exibility and, according to the 2014 Qualtrics Millennials in Tech Survey, 79 percent of Millennials would rather be mobile than static while working. In addition, 90 percent of managers believe that workers are more produc- tive when given the fl exibility to choose when and how they work 1 . Instead of being meta- phorically chained to a desk, Millennials prefer options when it comes to where they work. Designing numer- ous work stations that span the spectrum of privacy and comfort allows for fl uidity of movement and fl exibility per personality type. Individual Millennial ill ill Mille Mille M M C l i n i c i an s Attracting Designing hospitals to recruit and retain talent Attracting