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

Population health management is an approach to improve the health outcomes of a specific group of people, such as frequent users of the emergency department or those at high-risk for hospital admissions. When combined with quality improvement strategies, the targeted application of health information exchange and health information technology (health IT) can swiftly move health care systems and providers from basic to advanced population health management. One such tool is an electronic alert system (alert system), which informs a provider or site about a patient's visit to the emergency department or hospital admission on a daily basis. This article highlights the use of such an alert system in 2 communities to help address gaps in population health management.