Navigating-Population-Health-Management-Challenges

Scenario
As the healthcare paradigm shifts from treating illness toward preventing illness, providers are being challenged to adopt new models of care delivery and to embrace evolving concepts of value-driven reimbursement strategies. Moreover, healthcare providers must give increased attention to improving healthcare in a manner that improves health outcomes across population groups for the entire nation. For example, data must be collected on populations and assessed to determine the effectiveness of different approaches.

Read the article,

Navigating-Population-Health-Management-Challenges.pdf

, for insight into some of the issues that providers face in making the shift toward population health management. Imagine that you are the new Chief Population Officer for an integrated health system, and you are tasked by your health system CEO with identifying the challenges of such an implementation, analyzing why these challenges exist, discovering research-based proposed solutions for these challenges, and debating the pros and cons of each of these solutions.

 

Part 1: Identify Challenges
Identify five of the most significant challenges to implementing a population-health approach for improving health outcomes and promoting wellness in the United States.
Each challenge should be a sub-heading in this part of the paper. Present the challenge, describe it, and provide some history or background, based on credible research sources. If you need writing assistance, see the Rasmussen College Writing Guide.
Part 2: Analysis of Challenges
Explain each challenge you identified in Part 1 and provide a comprehensive discussion about why each has broad and far-reaching implications for improving the health of the U.S. population.
Use data and scholarly research to support your thinking and bolster your discussion.
Part 3: Discover Proposed Solutions
Discuss proposed solutions to each of your five identified challenges. These are to be solutions you have found in your research.
Discuss the pros and cons of the solutions you have discovered. What are the arguments for and against these proposed solutions and by whom? This requires critical analysis. You will want to assess the solutions, as well as their detractors and supporters and any possible biases for each. You will want to think through how solutions would be implemented, funded, supported, and received by various stakeholders such as medical professionals, government, and the public.

Sample Solution

  1. Fragmented healthcare system

The US healthcare system is highly fragmented, with patients often receiving care from multiple providers in different settings. This makes it difficult to coordinate care and track patient outcomes.

  1. Lack of data sharing

The lack of data sharing between healthcare providers and other stakeholders, such as employers and insurers, makes it difficult to get a complete picture of a patient’s health. This can lead to missed opportunities for preventive care and treatment.

  1. Financial incentives

The current fee-for-service payment system rewards providers for the volume of services they provide, not for the quality of care they deliver. This can discourage providers from taking a population health approach, which focuses on preventing illness and improving health outcomes.

  1. Lack of public health infrastructure

The public health infrastructure in the US is weak, making it difficult to address the social determinants of health, such as poverty, lack of education, and unemployment. These determinants play a major role in health outcomes, but they are often overlooked by healthcare providers.

  1. Lack of patient engagement

Many patients are not engaged in their own health care. This can make it difficult to provide effective preventive care and treatment.

Part 2: Analysis of Challenges

The challenges I identified in Part 1 have broad and far-reaching implications for improving the health of the US population.

Fragmented healthcare system: The fragmented healthcare system makes it difficult to coordinate care and track patient outcomes. This can lead to patients falling through the cracks, receiving duplicative or unnecessary care, and experiencing worse health outcomes.

Lack of data sharing: The lack of data sharing between healthcare providers and other stakeholders makes it difficult to get a complete picture of a patient’s health. This can lead to missed opportunities for preventive care and treatment, as well as inaccurate diagnoses and treatment plans.

Financial incentives: The current fee-for-service payment system rewards providers for the volume of services they provide, not for the quality of care they deliver. This can discourage providers from taking a population health approach, which focuses on preventing illness and improving health outcomes.

Lack of public health infrastructure: The weak public health infrastructure in the US makes it difficult to address the social determinants of health, such as poverty, lack of education, and unemployment. These determinants play a major role in health outcomes, but they are often overlooked by healthcare providers.

Lack of patient engagement: Many patients are not engaged in their own health care. This can make it difficult to provide effective preventive care and treatment. Patients who are not engaged in their care are less likely to follow through with treatment plans, take medications as prescribed, and make healthy lifestyle changes.

Part 3: Discover Proposed Solutions

There are a number of proposed solutions to the challenges of implementing a population health approach. Some of these solutions include:

  1. Building a more coordinated healthcare system

This could be done by creating accountable care organizations (ACOs), which are groups of healthcare providers that work together to coordinate care for patients. ACOs are rewarded for improving the quality and outcomes of care, not just the volume of services they provide.

  1. Increasing data sharing

This could be done by developing common data standards and interoperability protocols. This would make it easier for healthcare providers to share data with each other and with other stakeholders, such as employers and insurers.

  1. Changing the payment system

The payment system could be changed to reward providers for the quality of care they deliver, not just the volume of services they provide. This would encourage providers to take a population health approach.

  1. Strengthening the public health infrastructure

This could be done by increasing funding for public health programs and initiatives. This would allow public health agencies to do a better job of addressing the social determinants of health.

  1. Increasing patient engagement

This could be done by providing patients with more information about their health, making it easier for them to access care, and empowering them to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Conclusion

The challenges of implementing a population health approach are significant, but they are not insurmountable. By implementing the proposed solutions, we can make progress towards improving the health of the US population.

 

This question has been answered.

Get Answer
WeCreativez WhatsApp Support
Our customer support team is here to answer your questions. Ask us anything!
👋 Hi, Welcome to Compliant Papers.