If a population health management (PHM) program can’t demonstrate its value, it’s unlikely it will continue to get funding from senior leadership. That’s why it’s important to build a business case for continued investment in population health management initiatives by monitoring and measuring PHM programs, suggests Patricia Curran, principal in Buck Consultants’ National Clinical Practice.
Within four dimensions for measuring success — attitudes, engagement, outcomes and performance — Ms. Curran suggests the following questions as a starting point for organizations to begin to measure their program successfully. She also suggests sample measures for each dimension:
Attitudes:
- Did we increase interest?
- Did we change opinions?
- Did we build confidence?
Sample measures include:
- Perceived value of programs, resources
- Increased levels of knowledge
- Perceived ability to make better decisions
- Member satisfaction survey
Engagement:
- Did we motivate program participation?
- Did we change lifestyle health habits?
- Did we mobilize grass-roots efforts?
Sample measures include:
- Increased wellness and health management participation
- Web site visits
- Shifts to high-quality providers
Outcomes:
- Did we enhance health status?
- Did we improve healthcare outcomes?
- Did we improve treatment compliance?
Sample measures include:
- Reduced risks (e.g., BMI, cholesterol, physical inactivity)
- Compliance with evidence-based treatment protocols
- Use of preventive services
Performance:
- Did we reduce costs?
- Did we increase efficiency?
- Did we improve competitiveness?
Sample measures include:
- Reduced healthcare cost trend
- Lower absence rates
- Reduced presenteeism
- Increased productivity
- Reduced turnover
