The following 10 feature stories cover various aspects of population health, from contracting to patient engagement, process changes to representation in the health system or hospital C-suite.
1. 5 Market Factors Influencing Population Health Contracts
Market dynamics influence quite a few things when it comes to population health, including how quickly providers and purchasers develop contracts, how much financial risk providers are willing or able to take on, and what types of contracts are available.
2. Operation Population Health: Cultural and Process Changes Facing Hospitals Today
Although the concept of population health has taken hold on the healthcare industry in the past few years, it is nonetheless easy for it to remain just that: a concept. Change doesn't come easy in hospitals and health systems, but this is even more the case when a change is systemic and far-reaching — precisely the intention of population health. This article explores the strategic and operational challenges involved with population health.
3. 10 Key Statistics for Managing Population Health
Ten statistics on the health status of the U.S. population, according to the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics' report "Health, United States, 2012."
4. Taking a Patient-Centered Approach to Population Health Management
Two years ago, Reid Hospital & Health Care Services — a 223-bed nonprofit hospital in Richmond, Ind. — began pursuing a population health management initiative focused on individualized patient-case manager interactions. This article is a brief description of the program and the benefits Reid Hospital has realized since starting the journey.
5. Paying for Population Health: Why Rewarding Value is Key
As healthcare providers zero in on population health management, industry experts say the payment systems that support them will need to continue to transform. But the specific shape healthcare provider reimbursements need to take to best support population health improvement efforts remains unclear.
6. Population Health Management: Hospitals' Changing Employer Role
While the healthcare system's role in the community is changing to that of a partner in health and in sickness, many systems have also renewed their commitment to partnering with employees and also keeping them well. Their role as employers is changing along with their role in their communities.
7. 6 Types of Population Health Interventions
As health systems look to take on risk through population health management, clinical leaders are exploring which population health interventions provide the greatest ROI. When brainstorming or selecting among various potential initiatives, clinicians may select among six various types of interventions.
8. 6 Questions to Evaluate Population Health Initiatives
Which population health interventions will provide the best ROI (lowest cost, biggest reduction in diabetes and related costs)? Six questions can help evaluate.
9. Health System C-Suiters, Meet the Chief Population Health Officer
The rise of population health management has led many health systems to add a new member to the executive roundtable: the chief population health officer.
10. It's Not Easy to Engage Patients — Even for ACOs
Patient-centered care is a cornerstone of any accountable care organization, but creating or joining one doesn't necessarily make patient engagement any easier. In the world of healthcare business, patient engagement may sound like a "soft" concept, but its difficulty is nothing to underestimate.
More Articles on Population Health:
5 Myths Surrounding the Business of Population Health Management
5 Enablers for Population Health Management
What Organizations do Hospitals Partner With for Population Health?