As healthcare continues to develop specialized technical proficiency, health organizations must find a way to correctly track and avert unhealthy trends. By combining big data as well as prevention tactics, organizations have found a way to improve society health with population health management.

What is population health management?

Population health management refers to the concept of improving health outcomes of a defined group of individuals. An organization may focus on a specific patient population, disease, geographic area as well as various other characteristics. This holistic approach is dependent on comprehensive data analyzation, as providers are focused on ways to correctly intervene and prevent illness. Population health uses customizable, non-traditional approaches such as patient engagement.

What is the difference between population health and public health?

Population and public health deal with the well-being of communities or groups of individuals. While these terms are often used interchangeably, the distinction between the two deserves discussion.

Population health measures patterns of various health occurrences while also examining the overall wellbeing of a society. Providers proactively work to improve the health of populations by promoting healthy lifestyles, preventing disease and addressing health inequities. In order to diminish inequities and improve the health of populations, providers must use system level approaches. This approach allows professionals to allocate resources to health protection and promotion before illness treatment is necessary. Population health outcomes are commonly associated with clinical care, genetics, behaviors, social factors and environmental factors.

In relation, public health aims to promote healthy living in communities which people live, learn, work and play. Public health works by track community disease, while providing an educational tool in return. In order to prevent disease, officials use organized interventions and education programs such as immunization campaigns or smoking cessation. Public health officials also have the ability to assure health and safe conditions. They set safety standards or develop school nutrition programs.

Why is population health important?

Care management has been evident in the healthcare field for years. However, there has been a drastic shift to value-based care, incentivizing healthcare providers to focus on patient outcomes and proper timed care. Value-based reimbursement not only encourages providers to deliver better care, but also offers rewards for upgrades in patient results and coordination. Value based care provides organizations with a patient-centered system that generates a significant return on investment.

By implementing an efficient population health system, organizations are able to improve patient satisfaction rates. Patients are able to receive care when they need it, helping to eliminate patient anxiety. Engagement also encourages patients to manage their own health, which presents a sense of empowerment.

Critical components of population health

In order to accurately and efficiently implement population health management, there are three components which health centers should focus on:

1. Information-powered clinical decision making: Organizations must focus on data that will increase their power to enhance clinical decisions, improve quality, and lower costs.
2. Primary care-led clinical workforce: Health centers should invest in next-generation technology that establishes high quality, low cost pathways.
3. Patient engagement and community integration: Providers must shift their focus outward and connect with patients outside a clinical setting.