Population Health

Why is population health important?

Population health delivery has become increasingly important in recent years as more health systems and providers seek better ways to improve the health of the people and communities they serve. Providers are moving beyond focusing their clinical interventions primarily on the highest risk or sickest individuals. Rather, they see better outcomes when they take a more holistic approach that focuses on preventative measures, interventions, and incentives to promote health and wellness throughout the entire community.

Population health delivery prioritizes the value of care

With a population health approach, providers focus on the quality and efficiency of care. They prioritize the value of the care they deliver to patients, not simply the volume of patients they see, procedures they accomplish, or the speed at which they deliver care.

Value-based care is a win-win for everyone. Patients are healthier and live healthier lifestyles, which results in healthier communities. Providers are rewarded for outcomes that are tied to measurable objectives based on quality and the improved health of the overall population.

At the Northeast Georgia Health Partners Network — which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) — we are working on expanding value-based services. Our network of community and regional physicians and hospitals, including those within NGHS, focuses on delivering health care that is safer, more affordable, and more effective for the people and communities we serve.

Population health delivery promotes collaboration across the continuum of care

Population health delivery promotes collaboration among all types of services and service providers (hospitals, physicians, community groups, etc.) that work together to deliver improved outcomes. These partnerships work across the continuum of care, providing solutions to ensure people have seamless access to the right care at the right time and in the right place.

Examples include:

  • Care managers access data that show patients with complex chronic diseases in high need of outreach and care coordination services. Among other proactive outreach, care managers will contact patients to ensure they are scheduling and attending follow-up appointments.
  • Close care gaps and improve outcomes through seamless collaboration among providers who work across the continuum of care. Providers work together to implement strategies that reach patients at high risk of chronic diseases and then engage patients with preventive measures—such as diabetes or lifestyle management programs—that will help improve care outcomes through early interventions.
  • Implement consistent screening measures to assess patients with goal to provide early interventions for those who may be at high risk for chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and more.
  • Continuously explore new ideas about how to provide specific services through digital technology to provide care for people before they need to go to their doctor’s office or the hospital.

Population health promotes healthier communities

Population health delivery uses preventative strategies to keep people from getting sick—or sicker—and incentivizes good health and wellness. Further, coordinated and integrated care delivery reduces redundancy and duplicative services, resulting in more streamlined, effective care.

ABOUT Health Partners Network and HP2

The Northeast Georgia Health Partners Network — which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) — is a network of over 1,600 community and regional physicians and hospitals, including those within NGHS and others across the region.

The HP2 network brings together physicians and advanced practice practitioners from Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Longstreet Clinic, Georgia Heart Institute (formerly known as The Heart Center of Northeast Georgia Medical Center), Northeast Georgia Physicians Group, and other independent practices throughout our region.

Our network providers share a commitment to improving outcomes for patients. We work together to improve care access, reduce unnecessary tests and hospital admissions while providing individualized care.