Implementing a population health program is neither easy nor fast. And yet 68% of organizations reported that they were well positioned to be among the partners that a payer will contract with for population heath,” observes Dr. Jonathan M. Niloff.
Danvers, MA (PRWEB) October 11, 2013
HealthLeaders Media, a division of HCPro, in collaboration with McKesson Corporation, conducted an independent survey of healthcare executives to explore emerging challenges and opportunities in population health—the health outcomes of a defined demographic. The responses were analyzed in a comprehensive report “Population Health Management: Steps to Risk Sharing and Data Analytics,” available for complimentary download at healthleadersmedia.com/intelligence.
The reenergized campaign for population health was kindled by new initiatives to improve accountability, prevention, and the management of chronic disease, driven by a healthcare reform-related performance incentive programs like the ACO model of care and readmissions reductions. More than an industry buzz-word, population health management provides new value-add opportunities for the changing healthcare delivery model.
“Facing payment reform and declining reimbursement, healthcare leaders are tasked with integrating disparate providers across the care continuum to create new levels of consumer value,” says Marion A. McGowan, RN, Executive Vice President and Chief Population Health Officer at Lancaster (Pa.) General Health. “A transformation of this magnitude is unprecedented. It requires new competencies such as sharing the financial risk of clinical care, forming unconventional partnerships with payers and physicians, leveraging intelligence technologies, and building new business models in accountable care.”
The report highlights three key industry trends. First, the shift to population health is evident, with three quarters of the represented organizations having already launched a program with this as its primary initiative. Second, payers and providers alike will increasingly rely on clinical data to achieve performance targets, investing in technology with data analytics capabilities. Third, organizations are recognizing the necessity of training to utilize these technologies effectively and improve efficiencies across the care continuum.
“Implementing a population health program is neither easy nor fast. And yet 68% of organizations reported that they were well positioned to be among the partners that a payer will contract with for population heath,” observes Dr. Jonathan M. Niloff, Vice President and Executive Medical Director of Population Health for McKesson Corporation. “Such optimism is a positive sign, though we know this effort requires significant organizational realignment as well as new programs, resources, and technology. However, the payoff can be significant.”
Other key findings of the report include:
1. Nearly all (90%) of healthcare leaders say their organization will pursue a population health strategy.
2. Two-thirds of health systems (66%) intend to improve population health by becoming adept at data analytics.
3. One-third (32%) expect to focus their early or pilot population health efforts on a population defined by a chronic condition.
4. Integrating clinical care data across the care continuum (66%) and adding data analytics capability (53%) top the list of population health management investments for the next three years.
5. Nearly two-thirds (63%) of healthcare leaders are pursuing partnerships with other providers to share risk while improving population health.
In addition to the complimentary report, two extended versions are available for purchase, containing in-depth analysis and additional features: the Premium version, which may be purchased at http://www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-11645/Population-Health-Management-Steps-to-Risk-Sharing-and-Data-Analytics.html, includes case studies from Gundersen Health System, Lancaster General Health, and Jefferson School of Population Health lets readers segment data according to their needs, and provides recommendations and discussion questions for healthcare leadership teams; and the Buying Power version, which is available for purchase at http://www.hcmarketplace.com/prod-11647/Population-Health-Management-Steps-to-Risk-Sharing-and-Data-Analytics.html, is designed for healthcare industry suppliers and includes detailed drill-down data on purchasing trends and projections to aid sales strategies.
HealthLeaders Media
HealthLeaders Media, a division of HCPro, Inc., is a leading multi-platform media company dedicated to meeting the business information needs of healthcare executives and professionals. As an integrated media company, HealthLeaders Media includes HealthLeaders magazine, HealthLeadersMedia.com, the HealthLeaders Media Intelligence Unit, HealthLeaders Media Rounds events, HealthLeaders Media Breakthroughs reports, and California HealthFax. All these platforms may be found online at http://www.healthleadersmedia.com.
# # #
