Population Health

Last month, the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah announced the opening of the Huntsman Center for Health Outcomes and Population Equity (HOPE). The research and clinical center is dedicated to preventing cancer and improving health among underserved populations.

Clinical trials researching cancer therapies should be more inclusive of a broader range of patients, according to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and Friends of Cancer Research.

A different way to measure population aging takes into account changing life expectancy, with implications for healthcare.

Recent research indicates that patients who are treated within an integrated model of care for their inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have improved outcomes, as they tend to undergo IBD-related surgeries less often and are more likely to receive treatment other than steroids.

Programs like One Great Community aim to engage communities in the process of population health research, which is a key to successful public health initiatives, explained Shauntice Allen, PhD, assistant professor in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health.

The spread of HIV has stabilized in some areas of the world, but continues to rise in others, said Thomas C. Quinn, MD, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health.

Community health records have the potential to transform the way stakeholders work to improve health at the community level by aggregating local data on the social and physical determinants of health, according to a recent commentary in the American Journal of Public Health.

A recent study indicated that strategies to promote weight loss or maintenance across an entire population could be more effective in preventing type 2 diabetes than programs specifically targeting obese people at high risk of developing the disease.

Rates of food insecurity remain high in American Indian communities, and a recent study indicates that inadequate food quality and quantity may put these populations at higher risk of diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.

When working with a homeless population, the Camden Coalition has learned that they need to establish open lines of communication, build a sense of trust, and follow through on their promises to patients, according to Renee Murray, associate clinical director of Care Management Initiatives at Camden Coalition. Often times these patients have more urgent priorities or may not believe that the Camden Coalition team is actually dedicated to working with them.

When women are empowered to take control of their own health, the results can be profound: reduced infant mortality, decreased spread of infectious diseases, and increased family and community health. An investment in women’s education truly is an investment in the well-being of society.

Relationships with accountable care organizations and provider organizations can help payers join in a value-based, holistic approach to improving health within a community, said Harold L. Paz, MD, MS, executive vice president and chief medical officer at Aetna.

Researchers evaluated 137 mobile health apps designed to help patients manage their health and found inconsistencies in the apps’ functionalities, privacy policies, and reactions to indications of health danger.

This paper presents a policy proposal to integrate care for Medicare beneficiaries through creation of integrated care organizations and a Medicare home care benefit.

Accountable care organizations all over the country have shown that no single method can work for every system, said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA, outgoing president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

A recent study has found a positive association between a county’s well-being score and life expectancy, even after controlling for race, poverty, and education. The findings indicated that investing in local well-being initiatives could improve the quality of life and increase longevity for that community.

As the healthcare industry continues its transition towards alternative payment models (APMs), some providers might feel apprehensive about keeping up with new requirements like those in the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) final rule. However, these providers can use healthcare information technology (IT), data analysis tools, and other resources to adapt to these changes, according to Suzanne Travis, vice president of regulatory strategy at McKesson.

Individualized medicine can complement the principles of population health to deliver better results for patients, according to Leonard M. Fromer, MD, FAAFP, executive medical director of the Group Practice Forum.

The opportunities for telehealth to radically transform the healthcare system are enormous, but the foremost priority of these innovations must be the delivery of value, said Reed V. Tuckson, MD, FACP, at the National Committee for Quality Assurance Quality Talks conference in Washington, DC, on Monday.

ACOs have great potential in helping achieve a more value-based delivery system, said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA, outgoing president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She also discussed the challenges that safety net ACOs face in delivering care with fewer resources.

Two studies presented at the American Diabetes Association's 74th Scientific Sessions show that evaluating diabetes risk and patient health by nation of origin and ethnic background yields richer insights into how the disease affects populations.​

Healthcare reform, an aging population and a physician shortage are factors forcing hospital executives to rethink staffing, both inside and outside hospital walls, according to a panel discussion Tuesday during the U.S. News & World Report's Hospital of Tomorrow conference.

Take a mental snapshot of the U.S. health care system as it is today, because in 10 years, you might not recognize it. And if something isn't done now to boost the number of doctors in the U.S., you may not like it, either.

The Performance Measurement for People with Multiple Chronic Conditions conceptual model can facilitate development and refinement of quality measures for a medically complex population.

In this segment of the panel discussion, Dr Fendrick asks the panelists if there is now a sense of optimism in reducing the mortality and quality gaps in prostate cancer treatment due to targeted screening and new molecular diagnostics, and immunotherapies.

Automated phone and mail population outreach resulted in an almost 4-fold increase in the rate of screening for colorectal cancer even without an office visit.

Robert Margolis, MD, Managing Partner and CEO, HealthCare Partners, states that physicians and hospitals need to understand how to assess health and insurance risks in order to provide better care.

Marcus D. Wilson, PharmD, President, HealthCore, states that there is variability within and between different organizations that utilize comparative effectiveness research.