Population health management aims to prevent disease and promote health through organized community efforts, as defined by Charles-Edward A. Winslow. The US spends more on healthcare per capita than any other nation but covers only 34% of its population. Several health indicators, such as infant mortality rates, show the US performing worse than other developed nations. Implementing population health management could help address these issues through holistic population trend analysis, enhanced patient engagement, and more coordinated, cost-effective care. However, barriers to implementation include inefficient data sharing, a lack of health IT infrastructure, incomplete data, and challenges with change management.

1. Population Health
Management
101
The one where it all starts

2. Population Health Management
Charles-Edward A. Winslow, when establishing the Yale Department of
Public Health defined Population Health Management as:
“The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and
promoting health through the organized efforts and informed
choices of society, organizations, public and private communities,
and individuals.”

3. The State of U.S. Healthcare
U.S. spends $4197 per capita on health care, but it covers only 34% of its
population.
In 2013, US allotted 17.1% of its GDP to healthcare; highest by any OECD country.
According to a report by the Commonwealth Fund:

4. Infant mortality rate in the US was also higher than other OECD nations.
68 percent of the 65+ population in the US is suffering from two or more
chronic conditions.
The State of U.S. Healthcare

5. Need for Population Health Management
The major cause of these problems is the lack of knowledge about
population trends.

6. Benefits of PHM
With holistic population trend analyses,
better decision making.
Enhanced patient engagement of at-
risk population.
Better care delivery for acute episodes.
Patient-centric care with efficient Care
Coordination
Cost-effective quality value-based
care.

7. 1. Inefficient inter and intra organization Data flow
2. Lack of required HealthIT infrastructure for advanced analytics and
evidence-based decision making
3. Incomplete and unstructured data of population
4. Change management
Barriers in Implementation

8. The Road Ahead
Developing interoperability standards
for EMRs to align with patients and
track their information.
Have greater focus on using data to
make care team efficient.
Structuring patient data to help make
better decisions.
Shifting to value over volume.