Healthcare Buzzwords Defined

Healthcare is always evolving. We are on a constant mission to be able to provide better care with less cost and more convenience. With that comes buzzwords that we hear in the news, at our doctors’ appointments or when enrolling for insurance. This glossary will help you learn some of the words buzzing around healthcare these days.

Value-Based Care
Value-based healthcare refers to changes in healthcare from a model of quantity to quality. Healthcare providers are incentivized based on the quality of care they provide, rather than the amount of services.

Cost-efficient
20-25% of healthcare spending is deemed unnecessary, according to a study published in JAMA. Cost-efficient care refers to the method used to overcome this excessive healthcare spending by providing quality care with the least amount of resources.

Population Health
Population health is the collection of health outcomes of not just one individual, but the health of those living in a given place together. The involves different disciplines working together to achieve the best outcomes for a community.

Social Determinants of Health
A study published in Health Affairs found that 70% of health outcomes are guided by factors other than healthcare. Did you know factors such as your zip code, employment status or education can impact your health? These factors are a few examples of social determinants of health, which are the conditions someone lives and works that influence their health, according to the World Health Organization. These conditions impact the behaviors we develop, which ultimately influences how we take care of our health.

Evidence-based Healthcare
Evidence-based healthcare is the foundation in which great clinical-decision making stands. It means using scientifically based research to determine the best course of care for each patient.

Patient Engagement
Patient engagement means that the patient takes an active role in their care. An engaged patient doesn’t just simply listen to their physician; they make sure they understand, ask questions, and take advantage of educational resources available to them. Have you doubts about how effective this can be?
A study performed by Concentra split 170,000 patients into two groups: one group received an average level of support from a health coach while the second group received enhanced support. The group with more support had 5.4% lower medical costs, 12.5% fewer hospital admissions, and 20% fewer heart surgeries.

Responsible Utilization
Nearly a quarter of healthcare spending is considered unnecessary. Responsible utilization refers to a practice’s commitment to eliminating unnecessary healthcare services and use resources in the most cost-effective way possible.

Preventable Hospitalizations
A study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that one in 10 hospitalizations were preventable. These hospitalizations could have potentially been avoided with outpatient treatment and disease management.