Whatever the term “du jour” is, it still comes down to Population Health Management or Community Health Management. It is what it is. It is a concept. In my column that appeared in the August, 2013, of Memphis Medical News, “Hurdles on the Track of the Affordable Care Act,” I mentioned two challenges sited in a survey and study conducted by the MGMA that couldn’t have illustrated this concept any better. The number one challenge on applicability scale is “assessing current operations to identify current operations to identify opportunities for improvement,” and the number one challenge on intensity scale is “preparing for reimbursement models that place a greater share of financial risk on the practice.”“We have an unprecedented access to information and exponential growth in computing speed and data storage. Experts predict that each of these factors will continue to double every 18 months. Our ability to connect to the Internet is becoming ubiquitous, creating expectations that information should be instantly accessible from any point on earth. The Internet is transforming the way people learn, interact, and conduct daily business, and undoubtedly it will continue to play an increasingly critical role in all aspects of our lives.” (“Top-Performing Healthcare Organizations,” Greg Butler and Chip Caldwell)The top 10 jobs of 2010 were jobs that didn’t even exist in 2004. Many students are preparing to work for companies that do not exist today, to use technologies that have yet to be created, and to solve issues we have not yet identified as problems. (Fisch and McLeod, 2007)So What? So if we wait until the next new intelligent phones and newest retina/finger print activated iPads, and move further past the “clouds,” then our Healthcare DNA will continue: Paralysis by Analysis. Maybe there is something we can learn from the tech companies on how to affect and change consumer behavior. But healthcare is not as fun as Game Boy. Let’s get our heads out of the clouds, (no pun intended), and bring it back down to earth. Of course, the objective is a healthy community/population. When the physicians in the Pediatric Independent Practice Association (PIPA) were in the due diligence phase of our secured physician portal, here are some of the “take always” (which also fit into the adult community.) For the most part here is what we learned, regarding perceived health:
80 percent of the population is healthy
10 percent of the population are “worried well”
5 percent of the population are undiagnosed
5 percent of the population is ill and take up 50 percent of all medical costs (source: American College of Healthcare Executives
Disease Management Outcomes: Top 3 percent users as percent of budget – 49 percent --43 percent = $5,000,000/year savings. (2013 Congress on Healthcare Leadership)Information Technology – Patient Centered Medical Home – Chronic Disease Management help the pieces together but not without the proper management team. And every team member must think:
All Hands On Deck
Coordinated Information Systems
Obsessive Focus on Continuum of Care
Drive Care to the Lowest Level
Reduce Admissions
Provide Wellness at Every Healthcare “TOUCH POINT”
As I mentioned in my previous article, “Are We Listening?” I will ask the question again. Are we listening? Generational differences sometimes cause clashes among workers on teams, but each generation brings a unique perspective to handle related tasks. If we don’t talk about why we’re different and have different perspectives, we don’t reach the best decisions. The more people are willing to invest in honest communication about the issue, the better the outcome. Bill Appling, FACMPE, ACHE is founder and president of J William Appling and Associates. He serves on the Medical Group Management board of directors. He is a national speaker, presenter and a published author. He serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Memphis and Chair of Harrah’s Hope Lodge board, and serves on the board of Life Blood. For more information contact Bill at appj54@aol.com.
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