As reimbursements shift from volume based to value based, healthcare organizations are becoming more responsible for providing the resources necessary to meet the needs of a given population. Aligning quality of care with the appropriate level of care and services becomes pertinent to healthcare organizations’ bottom line. It is imperative for healthcare leaders to develop programs that offer underserved communities an opportunity for a healthier tomorrow.

Several pioneer organizations have developed population health improvement models such as Accountable Care Organizations that force them to take responsibility for the beneficiaries they are serving. As the acuity of care increases, healthcare leaders must coordinate equitable care and properly address social determinants of health. The focus is no longer treating patients, but proactively keeping patients out of the acute healthcare setting and providing care in the community.

Developing population health management into a tangible measure continues to be a challenge for all healthcare organizations across the country. How to properly reduce costs while improving the quality and access of care in communities that lack the resources and education to care for themselves and prevent acute health issues and substantive chronic disease continues to be a major hurdle in population health adoption