Part 2 – From Interoperability to ROI
– David Baum, Director of Communications, BioIQ –
As we saw in our last installment, a properly orchestrated population health program can guide people to targeted health, wellness and disease management solutions, improving accountability and the health of the population. The data derived from biometric screenings and health risk assessments can trigger follow-up appointments with nurses, disease management programs,targeted education, prescription drug compliance programs, and one-on-one health-coaching sessions.
The key to making these connections is to utilize a technology platform that can capture the results of a health-screening event or wellness activity, generate an electronic health record, and then share that record with the entities that are charged with maintaining the health of the population.
Once participants are connected with suitable programs and interventions, the technology platform becomes the central hub for sharing data, driving participation, monitoring progress and tracking wellness measures. For example, the BioIQ platform creates a closed-loop system that conveys screening results, manages rewards and incentives, and directs people to pertinent interventions.
This type of guided interoperability becomes especially important as today’s population health programs expand. We now have volumes more health-related data than ever before. Record-breaking numbers of people are engaged in employer sponsored wellness programs, participate in biometric screenings, and use wearable devices. The data produced by these devices is being integrated with clinical systems, which creates even more insight into patient health.
Without a centralized data management platform to orchestrate these activities, the end results can be chaotic and difficult to quantify. Employers often procure services from multiple wellness vendors and these vendors must be able to share data to increase program effectiveness. BioIQ addresses this challenge by collecting data from biometric screening programs, health risk assessments, and third party wellness vendors, then transmitting electronic health records to health plans and other authorized stakeholders through secure, HIPAA-compliant connections.
Once a wellness program is correctly sharing data, it is possible to establish population baselines to monitor progress and improve accountability. Aggregate reports reveal major health risks within the population and identify individuals with chronic conditions. By correlating population data, cost of interventions, and claims paid year-over-year, program administrators can begin to compute a return-on-investment (ROI) for healthcare expenditures. This enables organizations to improve employee health and to increase profitability and productivity for the organization.
BioIQ CEO Justin Bellante addressed the engagement/interoperability challenge in a recent webinar. Tune in for more insight into this important topic.