Executives anticipate 4-year payback period for population health tools

The majority of healthcare managers anticipate recouping their investments in population health management programs within three to four years, according to a survey by KPMG, a U.S. audit, tax and advisory firm.

The company conducted an online survey of 296 health managers, and found that 56 percent anticipate a ROI within four years for its investments in population health data and analytics tools. Also, 29 percent of those surveyed expect to see the investment pay off in five or more years, and 14 percent do not anticipate any ROI at all.

Of those surveyed:

• 36 percent said the biggest clinical benefit from population health management is with preventive care
• 23 percent said the development of evidence-based clinical protocols to improve care efficiency was the greatest benefit
• 21 percent said the management of chronic disease is the most beneficial result of using population health tools

The survey also found that population management tools have a long way to go. Only 24 percent view their population health management capabilities as mature, while 38 percent describe their capability as in the elementary stages.

"Our clients see benefits from population health management programs as a part of the solution to reduce avoidable medical costs and variability in care," said West Johnson, a KPMG advisory partner who heads provider transformation, in a statement. "Preventive care is given a big priority in these programs, since they deliver improvements in efficient and effective care with a high degree of patient engagement."