Below are a few examples from a range of projects related to Population Health in which SWL has been involved. For more information or to explore working with SWL on your upcoming project, contact Diane Stollenwerk at diane@stollenwerks.com

Greater Baltimore Region Integrated Crisis System (G-BRICS) Proposal for HSCRC Regional Partnership Catalyst Grant Program — Baltimore City, and Baltimore, Carroll and Howard Counties, Maryland

Engaged with multiple types of stakeholders across four Maryland jurisdictions, including 17 hospitals serving about 25% of Maryland’s population (accounting for 45% of state Emergency Department visits and inpatient stays with a Behavioral Health primary diagnosis), to design and write a grant proposal to create and fund the Greater Baltimore Regional Integrated Crisis System (G-BRICS). The grant will fund the creation of a well-functioning behavioral health crisis response system that helps resolve crises quickly for individuals and families, meets people where they are comfortable, and provides appropriate care and support, while avoiding unnecessary police interaction, emergency department (ED) use, and hospitalization. G-BRICS includes new infrastructure (high tech “Care Traffic Control” call center with GPS-enabled dispatch of mobile crisis teams, tracking of bed availability and open appointments to enable real time access, plus data analytics to ensure accountability and inform improvement), plus expansion of 24/7 access to behavioral health crisis services. The five-year, $45 million proposal was submitted on time and approved for full funding starting in 2021. (January 2020 – July 2020) See: https://www.bhsbaltimore.org/learn/gbrics-partnership/

Behavioral Health Systems Integration Project — Maryland Department of Health (MDH)

Working with the Maryland Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) to support the Maryland Department of Health’s mandate to integrate behavioral health. This involves designing and facilitating the collaboration between BHA leaders and 30+ local behavioral health authorities (Core Service Agencies, Local Addictions Authorities, and Local Behavioral Health Authorities) in the 24 local jurisdictions across Maryland – plus MDH leaders and other stakeholders – to design, motivate and support integration of how the Public Behavioral Health System (PBHS) is managed. Activities include: supporting BHA in strategic planning for the overall multi-year effort, plus facilitating a statewide multi-stakeholder Advisory Group and a statewide Learning Collaborative, identifying challenges and supporting BHA in documenting standard policies and procedures for local PBHS management, and engaging in outreach with key stakeholders. (2017 – ongoing)

Exploring the Role of Academic Public Health in Population Health Improvement — Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH)

Focus on population health continues to increase within and among many types of stakeholders, given the impact on individual health and the affect it has on driving up overall health care costs. While schools and programs of public health are at the center of training the future workforce of professionals focused on many of the issues essential to population health, there is a need to identify where more opportunities to have an impact might exist. Through the use of an extensive survey, key informant interviews, and roundtable discussions in several cities, SWL is working with ASPPH to explore the current role of academic public health in population health efforts, and to develop a vision and potential opportunities for increased involvement by schools and programs of public health in the important work to improve population health. (2016-2017)

Multistakeholder Input on a National Priority: Improving Population Health by Working with Communities — National Quality Forum

It has never been more important to understand how communities can work with the public health and clinical care systems to collaboratively improve population health. Shared definitions and a common conceptual framework are needed to ensure better coordination and advance community partnerships. This project allows NQF—through a multistakeholder, collaborative process—to develop a common framework for communities that will offer practical guidance on conducting successful population health projects. To learn more, download the Environmental Scan and Analysis to Inform the Action Guide (September 2013) (PDF) and the Action Guide 3.0 (August 2016) (PDF).

Women of Impact: Addressing Health Care’s Broken Windows: How Women Leaders Are Using Collective Impact to Fix What is Broken in Health Care — Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)

A small group of executive-level women from health care were brought together by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for a unique meeting to articulate their desired personal legacies, and to apply the concept of collective impact to advance those legacies in addressing complex problems in health care. The group, which has since become known as the Women of Impact, agreed on a shared goal: to realign the health care system to meet the needs of all Americans, recognizing that the people who need care come from all walks of life. To learn about the findings and recommendations of this dynamic group, download the report: Addressing Health Care’s Broken Windows: How Women Leaders Are Using Collective Impact to Fix What is Broken in Health Care (March 2014) (PDF)

Minnesota State Innovation Model — Minnesota Department of Health

Minnesota received a $45 million grant to improve population health outcomes while providing better care at a lower cost from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) as part of the State Innovation Model Initiative. Minnesota has used the funds to drive health care reform in the state and to test the Minnesota Accountable Health Model. The goal of this model is to ensure that every citizen of the state of Minnesota has the option to receive team-based, coordinated, patient-centered care that increases and facilitates access to medical care, behavioral health care, long term care, and other services. SWL is a key partner, along with the Centers for Health Care Strategies, helping the State of Minnesota with this work. In the process, a deliverable we developed is the  Accountable Communities for Health ‘accountability matrix’ to show different facets of organizational activities needed in population health accountability, and the various stages of development for each facet. This is now being used by national organizations as a template to apply to their own analysis for how best to evolve toward greater accountability to improve community and population health. See: https://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/idcplg?IdcService=GET_DYNAMIC_CONVERSION&RevisionSelectionMethod=LatestReleased&dDocName=SIM_Home

For more information or to explore working with SWL on your upcoming project, contact Diane Stollenwerk at diane@stollenwerks.com