Population health management (PHM) is the aggregation of patient data across multiple health information technology resources, the analysis of that data into a single actionable patient record, and the actions taken by care providers to improve both clinical and financial outcomes.

PHM aims to increase patient engagement through a proactive approach focusing on preventive care rather than treating illnesses as they arise. This approach allows healthcare organizations to focus on providing quality care that is accessible and affordable and results in healthier individuals.

Improved Patient Satisfaction

Whether improving patient satisfaction or keeping people healthy, population health management strategies are changing how healthcare organizations approach care delivery. These strategies rely on data to identify gaps in care and develop care plans that aim to close those gaps.

For example, a healthcare organization might realize that a 6-year-old still needs her annual well-child visit and directly contact the parents to inform them of the importance of that visit. Or, a chronic care program might realize that a senior with a history of stroke hasn’t picked up aspirin in three months and call to find out why and offer help with follow-up, education and coordination with a provider if needed.

As hospitals rethink their value-based reimbursement models, population health will likely become integral to the organization’s future. A solid foundation in risk stratification, preventative care and big data analytics will be necessary for any provider to implement these strategies successfully.

Reduced Medical Costs

As healthcare organizations shift to a value-based model, they must manage costs and improve patient outcomes. That’s where population health management strategies come in.

A successful PHM program helps physicians and hospitals improve care while reducing costs. This is accomplished by focusing on populations with high medical costs and high risks of developing chronic conditions.

By implementing population health strategies, healthcare providers can reduce costs by improving their care processes and addressing gaps in care that lead to increased use of emergency departments, hospital admissions and readmissions. They can also increase patient volume, which improves their profits.

Achieving this goal requires the right resources, tools, and data. For instance, data dashboards and other analytics toolkits can help population health managers effectively analyze their healthcare data and social, environmental, and cultural statistics to identify improvements or setbacks.

Increased Revenues

Healthcare providers worldwide are seeking ways to control costs and improve care quality. This is particularly true in the face of an aging baby boomer population, which requires more senior services and chronic diseases that need more attention and treatment.

The implementation of population health management strategies can increase revenues in several ways. One is through improved preventive care, which keeps patients out of the emergency room and hospital. The other is through better patient engagement.

Keeping a population healthy and engaged can also help improve a clinic’s Medicare Risk Adjustment Factor (RAF) score, enhancing Medicare reimbursement. The RAF is based on diagnosis codes submitted by healthcare providers.

PHM programs are often backed by data analytics technology, which allows managers and directors to monitor the effectiveness of their efforts. This information includes patient data from medical records and social, environmental, and community statistics. This helps managers and directors identify improvements or setbacks and revise their strategies accordingly.

Increased Efficiency

Population health management strategies can increase efficiency within the health system when implemented well. This can have significant implications for health systems in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) as they seek to manage healthcare costs, address rising disease burdens, and provide sustainable universal coverage.

For example, reducing the amount of paperwork and other bureaucratic tasks that patients and clinicians face during care can improve efficiency and increase access to health services for many people. In some cases, improving efficiency can even boost health-adjusted life expectancy.

Another benefit of increased efficiency is saving money for the health system and its stakeholders. For example, implementing automation to reduce the time spent on data management can allow care managers and other clinicians to spend more time on patient-centered care activities that are more likely to produce optimal outcomes.

Efficient population health management strategies also ensure that patients can get the care they need when they need it and in a convenient way. This can reduce the need for expensive emergency departments, thereby lowering healthcare costs in the long term.

Improved Patient Safety

Patient safety is a critical component of population health management. Its benefits include improved quality of care, lower hospital readmission rates, and reduced patient injury or infection costs.

Improved patient safety can be achieved by implementing several strategies, including enhanced handover processes and monitoring technology to catch human errors. However, to be successful, these strategies must be supported by strong leadership, well-trained healthcare professionals, and transparent policies.

In addition, population health managers must be able to identify the needs of the population and prioritize them. This can be done by analyzing patient demographics and health data, including risk factors for illness.

Using these data is essential for improving patient safety. For example, identifying high-risk patients and providing them with preventive care can help to reduce the chances of an individual developing a severe health problem.

Ultimately, improving patient safety can also lead to reduced medical costs and increased revenues for healthcare providers. It’s no surprise that population health management is becoming more critical as the healthcare industry shifts to pay-for-performance models.