22
POPULATION
HEALTH
Focusing
Population Health
Efforts to Build
Future Value: 5
Steps
By Shannon Barnet
T
ackling population health is an immense
goal, so provider networks should
focus their initial efforts on near-term
goals, according to tips published in an issue
of the Kurt Salmon Review, the publication of
the global management consulting firm Kurt
Salmon.
By narrowing its initial focus, these networks
and provider partnerships can accomplish small
population health successes early on and work
through any issues or barriers within a lower-
risk, controlled environment.
To focus near-term efforts and build future
value, networks should consider the following
five steps, as outlined in the Kurt Salmon
Review.
1
DEFINE "FIRST OPPORTUNITIES"
FOR CARE IMPROVEMENT
Opportunities for improvement may
include chronic and utilization-based
care issues or unnecessary emergency
department visits, to name a few.
2
START WITH THE
ORGANIZATION'S OWN LIVES
e founding organization's employees
and dependents should be the first
people on whom the network focuses
its efforts. To help build value, the
network should only direct these
individuals to participating physician
partners.
3
CONCENTRATE ON SPECIFIC
SUBSETS OF LIVES
Aer taking care of the organization's
own lives, the partnership's work
should shi to specific subsets of
lives where there are opportunities to
improve efficiencies in care delivery.
4
GATHER PROOF POINTS ON THE
NETWORK'S IMPACT
Areas the network may have impacted
include waste and duplication and
consumer satisfaction.
5
SHOWCASE THE NETWORK'S
RESULTS
Showcasing the network's results is an
important step that can help build the
network, gain new business and create
confidence among the partners. n
