Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the learnings of a broker organization that started a new Population Health Management initiative in two regions in the Netherlands. The research... Show morePurpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the learnings of a broker organization that started a new Population Health Management initiative in two regions in the Netherlands. The research focusses on the role of the broker organization itself in supporting stakeholders in the region to adopt a new implementation strategy designed by the broker organisation itself. The basis of this model was to organize, finance and monitor differently to improve the overall health of the population. Design/methodology/approach – An action research approach was chosen to support the endeavours of the broker organization and to acquire practical knowledge on the role of a third-party in PHM implementation. Qualitative data were collected from documentary analysis, focus groups, logbooks and observational data from team meetings. Findings – The main result is that the role of the broker organization to implement PHM was subject to change during the more than two years of the research. Several themes emerged that influenced these role changes, both internal and external, showing the complexity of providing PHM implementation support as a third-party to regional stakeholders. Practical implications – We hypothesize that the role of a third-party changes depending on the maturity of the regional collaboration. The complexity of the transition in healthcare calls for constant adaptations, and thus learning and reflection, from all involved. Action research is a strong tool for this. Originality/value – This paper is one of the first to report on the role of a third-party in PHM implementation. The action research methodology offered the right amount of flexibility to adhere to the complexity of the context and provided rich insights. Show less
Objective:As in many other countries, the Netherlands is facing challenges in the provision of healthcare to its population. To ensure the population remains in good health in coming decades, an... Show moreObjective:As in many other countries, the Netherlands is facing challenges in the provision of healthcare to its population. To ensure the population remains in good health in coming decades, an integrative approach to the many factors that influence health and health outcomes is needed. Population health management is gaining interest as a strategic framework for systems change in healthcare organisations. Based on population health management, the Dutch HealthKIC has developed the 'Plot model', which takes a regional perspective. The aim of this study was to detail the extent to which six prospective regions in the Netherlands were ready and willing to implement population health management using the Plot model, guided by the Five Lenses Model. Methods:Using an exploratory focus group reporting study, we involved stakeholders from six regions in the Netherlands. Thematic analysis followed the five predesigned dimensions of a validated cooperation model. Results:The study uncovered the potential for realisation of model aims, as assessed by an expert team, regarding shared ambition, mutual gains, relationship dynamics, organisational dynamics and process management. The exploratory questionnaire suggested that organisational dynamics is the least integrated topic in all areas, followed by process management, a finding confirmed in focus groups. Conclusion:The building themes of the Five Lenses Model all represent preconditions for the success of integration in the prospective regions. The present study showed that while some themes were reasonably represented in prospective regions, no region was satisfactory for all themes. Show less
Minderhout, R.N.; Numans, M.E.; Vos, H.M.M.; Bruijnzeels, M.A. 2022
Objective: The accessibility of acute care services is currently under pressure, and one way to improve services is better integration. Adequate methodology will be required to provide for a clear... Show moreObjective: The accessibility of acute care services is currently under pressure, and one way to improve services is better integration. Adequate methodology will be required to provide for a clear and accessible evaluation of the various intervention initiatives. The aim of this paper is to develop and propose a Population Health Management(PHM) methodology framework for evaluation of transitions in acute care services. Results: Our methodological framework is developed from several concepts found in literature, including Triple Aim, integrated care and PHM, and includes continuous monitoring of results at both project and population levels. It is based on a broad view of health rather than focusing on a specific illness and facilitates the evaluation of various intervention initiatives in acute care services in the Netherlands and distinctly explains every step of the evaluation process and can be applied to a heterogeneous group of patients. Show less
Schmidt, E.; Schalk, J.; Ridder, M.; Pas, S. van der; Groeneveld, S.; Bussemaker, J. 2022
Purpose: This illustrative case study describes and evaluates drivers of effective inter-organizational collaboration to mitigate the impact and spread of COVID-19 among homeless people in two... Show morePurpose: This illustrative case study describes and evaluates drivers of effective inter-organizational collaboration to mitigate the impact and spread of COVID-19 among homeless people in two cities in the Netherlands. The aims of this study are: (1) to explore the strategic and operational policy responses in two local integrated care settings at the start of the crisis, (2) to identify best policy practices and lessons learned. The authors interpret and evaluate the findings by combining insights from the population health management (PHM) and collaborative governance literature. Design/methodology/approach: The authors describe and illustrate the experiences of two Dutch municipalities, Rotterdam and The Hague, in the early policy responses to sudden operational challenges around the impact of COVID-19 on homeless people as experienced by local decision-makers, medical doctors and clients. Findings: The authors show that best policy practices revolve around (1) using data and risk stratification methods for identifying and targeting populations at-risk in local policy making, and (2) having an inter-organizational data sharing architecture in place ex ante. These two factors were clear prerequisites for tailor-made policy responses for newly-defined groups at risk with the existing and well-documented vulnerable population, and executing crisis-induced tasks efficiently. Originality/value: This paper is among the first to illustrate the potential of combining collaborative governance and PHM perspectives to identify key drivers of effective local governance responses to a healthcare crisis in an integrated care setting. Show less
