Small and rural hospitals can overcome population health management challenges by forming community partnerships, according to a report by the American Hospital Association's Health Research & Educational Trust and Hospitals in Pursuit of Excellence.
The report, "The Role of Small and Rural Hospitals and Care Systems in Effective Population Health Partnerships," includes the following checklist to ensure any agreement between small and rural hospitals and community-based organizations to create population health programs includes the elements necessary for success:
Leadership and governance roles
• All primary and secondary partners have developed a decision-making model (committee structure, board, coalition and community infrastructure).
• Agreement includes representation and composition of leadership and governance group.
• Specific partner skills and competencies are aligned to the roles and responsibilities in the decision-making process.
• Partners have agreed on the program's mission and vision.
Program resources
• Partners have identified all anticipated resources required for the program in the agreement and have developed a process to identify future resources.
• Specific partner-related resources are determined.
• A schedule for the release of resources is included in the agreement.
Program development and implementation
• Analysis of the population health status and/or assessment of community health needs is conducted with participation or input from all partners.
• Key trends and factors influencing health status outcomes are evaluated and prioritized, with input from key partners.
• Interventions and programs to improve population health status are developed collaboratively.
Program communication
• Partner communication methods (internally and externally) are defined, including meetings scheduled.
• Messages and branding used in communications are coordinated.
• Communication methods for each partner are identified and developed to allow information to be quickly disseminated to the community.
Care delivery/coordination approach
• Primary patient tracking mechanisms are identified.
• Each partner's role within the care delivery process is clearly defined.
• Biometric and other health-related data points that will serve as measurement tools for the population health program are identified.
Information collection, storage, sharing and utilization
• How program data is collected, stored and shared between partners is predetermined.
• Methods and partner responsibilities for utilizing data to measure the impact of the program are identified.
• Any technology or data sources that are integrated to enable program success are identified (if applicable).
7 Steps to Population Health
Executing Population Health Strategy: Q&A With Dr. Mike Schatzlein, CEO of Saint Thomas Health
The report, "The Role of Small and Rural Hospitals and Care Systems in Effective Population Health Partnerships," includes the following checklist to ensure any agreement between small and rural hospitals and community-based organizations to create population health programs includes the elements necessary for success:Leadership and governance roles
• All primary and secondary partners have developed a decision-making model (committee structure, board, coalition and community infrastructure).
• Agreement includes representation and composition of leadership and governance group.
• Specific partner skills and competencies are aligned to the roles and responsibilities in the decision-making process.
• Partners have agreed on the program's mission and vision.
Program resources
• Partners have identified all anticipated resources required for the program in the agreement and have developed a process to identify future resources.
• Specific partner-related resources are determined.
• A schedule for the release of resources is included in the agreement.
Program development and implementation
• Analysis of the population health status and/or assessment of community health needs is conducted with participation or input from all partners.
• Key trends and factors influencing health status outcomes are evaluated and prioritized, with input from key partners.
• Interventions and programs to improve population health status are developed collaboratively.
Program communication
• Partner communication methods (internally and externally) are defined, including meetings scheduled.
• Messages and branding used in communications are coordinated.
• Communication methods for each partner are identified and developed to allow information to be quickly disseminated to the community.
Care delivery/coordination approach
• Primary patient tracking mechanisms are identified.
• Each partner's role within the care delivery process is clearly defined.
• Biometric and other health-related data points that will serve as measurement tools for the population health program are identified.
Information collection, storage, sharing and utilization
• How program data is collected, stored and shared between partners is predetermined.
• Methods and partner responsibilities for utilizing data to measure the impact of the program are identified.
• Any technology or data sources that are integrated to enable program success are identified (if applicable).
More Articles on Population Health Management:
Scripps, SCL Health: Why Hospitals Are Moving to Hospice, Home Health7 Steps to Population Health
Executing Population Health Strategy: Q&A With Dr. Mike Schatzlein, CEO of Saint Thomas Health