Data Analytic Strategies Essential for Population Health Management

Population health management has become increasingly important for health systems as the industry shifts its focus towards value-based care. Because health systems have large amounts of data at their disposal, utilizing that data effectively to inform population health management strategies is critical.Population health is the various determinants that affect the health and well-being of individuals and populations on an everyday basis,” Ninon Lewis, MS, head of content portfolios at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement told HealthITAnalytics.com. We embrace the definition that includes the various determinants of health, including genetics, healthcare delivery, environment, social determinants, and behavior.Typically, Lewis said, organizations define population health based on where they fit in the care delivery system.Hospitals that are thinking about population health management rarely think about it outside their own walls. They might be thinking about patient-centered medical homes, patient registries, and implementing health-related questions into their EMR, Lewis explained. I tend to have a broader view of the total pie including what influences decisions, the ecosystem around you, and whether you’re going to thrive on a daily basis.