As we pool industry insights in preparation for our upcoming AMGA Annual Conference, we time and again observe shifts in the healthcare landscape.
Indeed, the transition to value-based payments has spurred healthcare systems to actively explore transformative population health approaches to both secure better outcomes for patients while simultaneously reducing the cost of care. With that in mind, here are 10 factors to focus on next year to effectively accelerate a successful population health strategy.
1. Engage the leadership of your organization - Investments in population health require leaders in healthcare systems to take a long-term view. They must recognize that adequate investment in health information technology, staff, and cultural changes may not have immediate pay-offs.
2. Get your data systems in order – Many organizations have spent years and exorbitant dollars on implementing electronic systems, but still do not see the benefit of increased productivity or data analytics. IT and clinical leaders should work together to design performance systems that produce meaningful results.
3. Create effective care teams – Providing proactive care for patients requires a nimble, cohesive team of diverse types of healthcare providers. Everyone will need to coordinate their efforts, and this will mean leaving egos at the door.
4. Risk stratify your population – For most attributed populations, a small percentage accounts for the majority of total spending. Figure out who these patients are ahead of time and determine what actions you can take to avoid high costs.
5. Engage everyone from the start - Today there are many members of the extended care team who touch the patient, so don't forget to include them in your communications. Some examples might behavioral health providers, pharmacists, nurses, call center staff, laboratory department personnel, nursing home administrators, and front-line office staff.
6. Assign patients to primary care – Primary care is the backbone of population health, and these physicians need to know the patients for whom they'll be held accountable. Linking patients to specific physicians or care teams enables the transparent measurement of quality and costs at a level that will highlight areas for improvement.
7. Measure variation in care – Some variation in care is appropriate, and some is not. Begin to measure how differences in care processes can result in differences in quality and costs.
8. Get some quick wins – Everyone rallies around success. Set an achievable goal that will motivate the team to continue their efforts.
9. Communicate through stories - Change is hard, and keeping everyone on board can be challenging. Telling stories about patients whose lives have been improved by the population health approach can sustain the momentum of your population health initiative and keep your workforce engaged.
10. Empower patients – Make your patients part of the care team. Learn from them what's working or not, and provide ways for them to tell you how to do better.
The continued transition to value-based care and challenge of improving population health are key issues to watch moving forward. For more information on this issue, take a look at the AMGA white paper on The Journey to Population Health and Risk.
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