Medical Construction & Design

JAN-FEB 2018

Medical Construction & Design (MCD) is the industry's leading source for news and information and reaches all disciplines involved in the healthcare construction and design process.

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40 Medical Construction & Design | JA N UA RY/ F EBRUA RY 2018 | MCDM AG.COM collaborating with design fi rms to ensure care spaces are aligned with these partnership goals and set up to help them thrive. Why population health matters Extensive research shows that environmental, social and behavioral issues are more important than clinical care in determining a population's health. Particularly, in under- served communities, health systems and networks have the opportunity to take active roles in advocating for equitable access to housing, workforce development, food banks and quality childcare to help address not only their popula- tion's medical needs, but also the social needs that can have a signifi cant impact on overall health. Moreover, research indicates the illnesses that plague us most are trending more and more from acute to chronic, with many chronic conditions often exacerbated by poor socio-economic and environmental factors. Other data reveals that avoidable ED admissions are resulting from unmet health needs and lack of access. All of this research requires action from our national healthcare system. As we learn more about how infl uenc- ing the social determinants of health can improve over- all health, we recognize the value in taking action. Already, critical health organizations and groups are formalizing policy and action to encour- age health systems to focus on population health. These actions include: > The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is incentivizing commu- nity partnerships through the Accountable Health Communities Model > The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy People 2020 — now in develop- ment for 2030 — encour- ages collaborations across communities and sectors to address public health challenges Benefi ts, challenges These policy changes are help- ing push strategic partner- ships that positively infl uence population health from a sound business idea to a day- in, day-out requirement. The great thing for health systems is those that can most adeptly evolve their care models stand to yield benefi ts for their com- munities and bottom lines. Several advantages are avail- able for health systems that can best manage population health, including: > Improved health outcomes for the people they serve > Lower costs incurred by averting preventable re- hospitalizations and emer- gency department visits > The capture of additional revenue streams from community-based organiza- tions and the opportunity to reach more community members > More effi cient allocation of social safety net resources to better meet consumer needs All of these drivers — new research, policy change and emerging incentives — are pushing health systems to address the social determi- nants of health and population healthcare head on and, in many cases, consider strategic partnerships. Just as important to recog- nizing the drivers and potential benefi ts of these partnerships, it's also key for organizations to acknowledge the challenges associated. The Center for Healthcare Strategies identi- fi es everything from accurately estimating resource needs and costs, to developing perfor- mance metrics and building capacity and staff skillsets as potential barriers. Leveraging design for success Beyond understanding a com- munity's unique challenges Outpatient Care ISSUE FOCUS The building's interior design is focused on helping address the social determinants of health, while improving access to care. 4 Number of decades Healthy People 2030 has been in development — healthypeople.gov 5th Healthy People 2030 is the fi fth edition of Healthy People. — healthypeople.gov 1979 Year Healthy People initiative began — healthypeople.gov

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