Technology-Enabled Population Health Management: Two Communities' Use of an Electronic Care Alert System.

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Health Informatics
• Public Health

Background:

• Population health management aims to enhance health outcomes for specific patient groups.
• Health information technology (health IT) and exchange are crucial for advancing population health management.
• Electronic alert systems provide timely notifications about patient hospital admissions or emergency department visits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the application of electronic alert systems in population health management.
• To demonstrate how health IT can bridge gaps in care for targeted patient populations.
• To illustrate the use of alert systems in two distinct community settings.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of an electronic alert system in two communities.
• Daily notifications to providers regarding patient emergency department visits or hospital admissions.
• Integration of alert systems with quality improvement strategies.

Main Results:

• The study showcases the practical use of electronic alert systems.
• Targeted health IT interventions can facilitate advanced population health management.
• Alert systems provide critical information for proactive patient care.

Conclusions:

• Electronic alert systems are effective tools for population health management.
• Health IT, specifically alert systems, can significantly improve care coordination.
• The targeted use of health IT addresses critical gaps in managing high-risk patient populations.