Population Health Management at Atrius Health

Abstract

In mid-2015, Emily Brower was appointed to the newly-created position of Vice President of Population Health at Atrius Health. Brower faced the challenge of framing a strategic plan to integrate population health approaches more broadly across the large physician practice organization.

In healthcare services, population health management refers to developing systems of care for groups of patients based on their clinical needs to increase quality, control costs, and enhance patient experience. One of the central ideas of population health is to use medical informatics to manage the care of groups of patients who shared demographic characteristics or chronic ailments. In so doing, population health changed the focus from treating individuals to managing larger groups of patients.

Brower faced numerous design decisions in creating a strategy to realize the full promise of population health within Atrius Health. How should Atrius Health most effectively define the populations to be managed? Should the services be located within the local practice offices or managed centrally? How should physicians be involved in the implementation of the programs?

This case was prepared for inclusion in Sage Business Cases primarily as a basis for classroom discussion or self-study, and is not meant to illustrate either effective or ineffective management styles. Nothing herein shall be deemed to be an endorsement of any kind. This case is for scholarly, educational, or personal use only within your university, and cannot be forwarded outside the university or used for other commercial purposes.

2024 Sage Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Resources

Exhibit 1: Example of a Letter From Dr. Claire Taylor (Used by Permission)

Dear XXX:

I hope you are doing well. I also hope your mother is better. I am con-cerned that we haven’t been able to reach you in some time. I saw that you were hospitalized in the spring at XXX hospital for osteomyelitis. I’m sorry to hear about the partial amputation. I had spoken with Dr. XXX in July and we were both concerned we hadn’t been able to reach you. Can you let me know if you had decided to pursue your primary care else-where? Hopefully you do still want to get care with me in which case I am so worried that I haven’t seen you especially as you had been ill. Can you please call me to help set up a follow up?

Sincerely yours,

XXX, MD

This case was prepared for inclusion in Sage Business Cases primarily as a basis for classroom discussion or self-study, and is not meant to illustrate either effective or ineffective management styles. Nothing herein shall be deemed to be an endorsement of any kind. This case is for scholarly, educational, or personal use only within your university, and cannot be forwarded outside the university or used for other commercial purposes.

2024 Sage Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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