The innovative healthcare delivery models that will drive patient-centered care

The innovative healthcare delivery models that will drive patient-centered care Rachel Marley

Quick Takes

• Increased demand for more individualized and convenient care pathways is resulting in a shift away from the more traditional provider-driven healthcare models
• Aging populations, a greater incidence of chronic diseases and resource constraints are driving the move towards value-based healthcare and a greater emphasis on coordinated and more efficient care as well as better outcomes
• Healthcare executives should seek to embrace strategic partnerships and collaborations to ensure they are positioned to take advantage of the emerging opportunities that will support more patient-centric care

Over recent years, stakeholders from across the healthcare ecosystem have been seeking to design new and innovative delivery models that will give patients greater autonomy when it comes to making decisions about their own treatment pathways. The advent of new technologies and a growing willingness to move to value-based care are supporting a shift away from the traditional provider-centric approach to more decentralized, patient-centric healthcare systems.

In this article, we explore the emerging models healthcare executives should be focusing on as healthcare systems transition to new delivery approaches that are putting patients at the center of the way in which they receive medical care. From telemedicine and virtual care to digital strategies and advances in personalized medicine and data management, we look at the trends paving the way for a more patient-focused, value-based, and inclusive healthcare system.

Why healthcare delivery models are changing

Patients are looking for more convenient, transparent, and individualized care solutions. At the same time, demand for resource-constrained services is increasing due to population growth, aging demographics, and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, 1 in 6 people will be 60 years, while the share of the population aged 60 years and above will increase by 1 billion in 2020 to 1.4 billion.¹

Additionally, patients have increasingly complex care needs, requiring holistic and integrated approaches, with more experts calling for healthcare leaders to move from a fragmented framework to a new model of shared responsibility and collaborative practices.²

The innovative models driving patient-centered healthcare

There are specific and innovative delivery models shaping modern healthcare and incentivizing providers to prioritize preventive care, care coordination, and patient satisfaction, creating the ultimate patient experience.

Value-Based Healthcare (VBHC):

Many healthcare systems are trying to move away from fee-for-service models and shift towards value-based models that deliver meaningful outcomes for patients while reducing unnecessary costs and waste within the system.³

Fundamental to the VBHC model is the ability to collect relevant data and measure standardized outcomes. Progress in this area has been slow due to siloed systems as well as issues related to interoperability and access⁴ but advances in technology and IT capabilities that allow data to be collected from across treatment pathways could help to overcome crucial barriers.⁵

“Data and analytics will support a healthcare system in which it’s more profitable to prevent a stroke than treat one. It is no accident that right now, a whole set of disruptors in value-based care are using technology and building on the data infrastructure we set in motion ten years ago to scale value-based models.”

— Farzad Mostashari, CEO of Aledade, was quoted as saying in a recent McKinsey publication.⁶

Collaborative Care:

Collaborative Care and Advanced Primary Care models are innovative approaches to healthcare delivery that aim to improve patient outcomes, enhance care coordination, and optimize resource utilization. Understanding these models will be crucial for driving organizational success and meeting the evolving needs of patients.

The Collaborative Care model emphasizes a team-based approach to care, bringing together primary care providers, mental health specialists, and care managers to address both physical and mental health needs. Patients receive comprehensive and coordinated care, leading to better outcomes for conditions like depression, anxiety, and other behavioral health issues.

Advanced Primary Care:

The Advanced Primary Care model, also known as the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model, focuses on transforming primary care practices into patient-centered, comprehensive, and coordinated care centers.

This model emphasizes preventive care, care coordination, patient engagement, and enhanced access to care. It involves redesigning workflows, implementing electronic health records (EHRs), and establishing care teams that include physicians, nurses, care coordinators, and other allied healthcare professionals.⁷

Virtual and remote care and the shift towards home care:

The widespread use of telehealth and virtual care during the pandemic means that patients are now used to being able to manage and access care online and remotely.

McKinsey & Company reported that more than 60% of consumers expect to be able to change or schedule a healthcare appointment, check their medical records and test results, and renew their medication(s) online.⁶

When it comes to chronic illness, more and more patients are wanting home care.

McKinsey & Company reported ‘up to $265 billion worth of care services for Medicare fee-for-service and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries could shift to the home by 2025’.⁶ With the focus on patient experience, as well as a growing number of patients with post-acute and long-term care needs, the traditional options of assisted living or long-term care are now being reconsidered. A combination of remote monitoring, telehealth, social support, and home modification could enable more patients to receive some level of Care at Home.

Digitalization and Digitization: enablers of the new models

The advent of electronic health records, wearable devices, and health monitoring technologies has generated vast amounts of data.  Effectively managing and utilizing this information is critical for improving healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital tools, and new types of therapeutics are playing a key role in data analysis and the development of more personalized treatment plans, while digital tools are helping to enhance patient engagement, remote monitoring, and telemedicine.

“Technology enables our patient centricity in three ways: accessibility through virtual health, building an experience around the patient 24/7 via continuous remote care, and accumulating massive amounts of data to drive proactive care.”

— Sami Inkinen, Cofounder and CEO, Virta Health, told McKinsey consultants.⁶

What healthcare executives can do to prepare for these changes

By proactively preparing for these changes, healthcare executives can ensure their organizations are positioned to thrive in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape, providing patient-centered care, achieving cost savings, and improving accessibility for a greater number of people.

A key way of doing this would be to explore strategic partnerships and collaborations by:

• Choosing technology companies and start-ups to collaborate with and leveraging new digital tools and AI applications.
• Engaging in partnerships with payers, providers, and community organizations to promote care coordination and value-based care initiatives.

When it comes to managing and organizing teams, healthcare executives can prepare for these changes by:

• Providing the necessary resources for training and infrastructure development.
• Supporting practice transformation efforts, providing necessary technology and infrastructure
• Ensuring adequate reimbursement models to incentivize primary care providers to adopt this comprehensive and patient-focused approach.

Prioritizing patient-centered care with innovative healthcare delivery models

The future of healthcare delivery models is driven by the need to prioritize patient-centered care. With increasing demands for healthcare services, complex care needs, abundant data, technological advancements, and a paradigm shift towards value-based care, healthcare executives must embrace these emerging trends to ensure their organizations thrive.

Healthcare executives will play a crucial role in ensuring healthcare systems are set up to deliver a better patient experience and achieve cost savings as well as improved accessibility of care by adopting innovative delivery models such as VBCH, Collaborative Care, Precision Medicine, and Advanced Primary Care. These models promote care coordination, personalized treatment plans, interdisciplinary collaboration, and proactive interventions, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.

1. World Health Organization. (2022). Article available from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health [Accessed June 2023]
2. Iglesias et al. (2018). Int J Integr Care 18, 16. Paper available from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6095050/ [Accessed June 2023]
3. Noel. (2022). Future Healthc J 9, 226-229. Paper available from https://www.rcpjournals.org/content/futurehosp/9/3/226 [Accessed July 2023]
4. Cossio-Gil et al. (2022). Value in Health 25, 1148-1156. Paper available from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1098301521031806 [Accessed July 2023]
5. Mjåset et al. (2020). NEJM Catalyst 1. Paper available from https://vbhc.nhs.wales/files/value-based-health-care-in-four-different-health-care-systems/ [Accessed July 2023]
6. McKinsey & Company. 2022. Article available from https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/healthcare/our-insights/the-next-frontier-of-care-delivery-in-healthcare#patient [Accessed July 2023)
7. Center for Disease Control & Prevention. 2021.  Article available from https://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/policy_resources/pcmh.htm [Accessed July 2023]