Service supply chains for population health: Overcoming fragmentation of service delivery ecosystems

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: William B. Rouse, Stevens Institute of Technology; Michael Johns, Emory University; Kara M. Pepe, Stevens Institute of Technology
• Language: English
• Date: 2019-04-02
• Publisher: Wiley Open Access
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2019 The Authors. Learning Health Systems published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the University of Michigan
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/lrh2.10186
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Learning Health Systems
• Volume: 3
• Issue: 2
• Keywords: substance abuse; social networks; systems science; behavioral economics; governance; population health
• Research Categories: Psychology, Clinical; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Introduction Population health involves integration of health, education, and social services to keep a defined population healthy, to address health challenges holistically, and to assist with the realities of being mortal. The fragmentation of the US population health delivery system is addressed. The impacts of this fragmentation on the treatment of substance abuse in the United States are considered. Innovations needed to overcome this fragmentation are proposed. Approach Treatment capacity issues, including scheduling practices, are discussed. Costs of treatment and lack of treatment are considered. Models of integrated care delivery are reviewed. Potential innovations from systems science, behavioral economics, and social networks are considered. The implications of these innovations are discussed in terms of information technology (IT) systems and governance. Conclusions Enormous savings are possible with more integrated treatment. Based on a range of empirical findings, it is argued that investments of these resources in integrated delivery of care have the potential to dramatically improve health outcomes, thereby significantly reducing the costs of population health.