Health Dialog and National Electric Cooperative to Share Successful Strategies for 10-Year Population Health Program

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) to reveal unique approach to improving health among total workforce

News provided by

Health Dialog

May 09, 2017, 07:30 ET

BOSTON, May 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Dialog, a leading provider of total population health management solutions for health plans, risk-bearing providers and self-insured employers, along with its client, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), will share its unique approach to predicting, delaying and preventing disease progression among a large workforce as part of a panel discussion at the 2017 World at Work Total Rewards Conference & Exhibition on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 in Washington, D.C. The NRECA is a national organization of more than 900 consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.

Health Dialog's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peter Goldbach, NRECA's Chief Physician Advisor Dr. Victor Villagra and Vice President of Product Development and Management Jodi Fuller will discuss NRECA's use of Health Dialog's Care Pathways analytics to design programs that are tailored and personalized for each member at every health stage of wellness. Unlike other analytic frameworks that focus solely on cost and utilization, Care Pathways tracks the progression of chronic disease in an entire population over a multi-year period to predict how members will progress along a disease pathway. It also finds that more than half the population is neither sick nor well but in the "silent middle," a segment of the population that is quietly developing undiagnosed pre-conditions and early stages of chronic illness that will become major cost contributors.

"Health Dialog has been a true partner with NRECA for nearly 10 years because of their unique ability to understand our members' health like no other," said Dr. Victor Villagra, Chief Physician Advisor for NRECA. "Care Pathways analyzes our health data to make predictions about where our members' health is headed if they continue along their current path. This level of insight will allow us to design and implement custom interventions that delay or prevent disease progression, helping us improve our members' health in an efficient and cost-effective way."

Care Pathways assigns individuals to one of nine health stages, ranging from "well" or "at-risk" to "sentinel event" and "recovery." Every stage represents a unique intervention point where a specific engagement, coaching strategy and/or educational tool can prevent further disease progression. Care Pathways is uniquely adept at identifying members "in the middle," those who are neither sick nor well and often have no claims data. This "silent middle" is quietly progressing along a disease pathway. Data show approximately 68 percent of an organization's members are among "the silent middle," and they're responsible for 53% of an organization's healthcare costs. Care Pathways not only finds them but also predicts their receptivity to help, allowing employers to send the right intervention to the right person at the right time.

"Wellness programs for the 'well' and disease management programs for the 'sick' can reduce costs and improve unhealthy behaviors but they ignore the bulk of the population and opportunity for cost avoidance," said Peter Goldbach, M.D., chief medical officer at Health Dialog. "NRECA recognized this gap and will rely on Care Pathways to close it. With insight into the specific, long-term needs of their entire population, NRECA will be able to deliver tailored programs that support a stronger, more productive workforce."

Drs. Villagra and Goldbach along with Ms. Fuller will discuss the NRECA program in the presentation, "You Say Couch Potato, I Say Future Medical Trend," on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Marriott Marquis (Salon N) in Washington, D.C.

About Health Dialog:
Health Dialog is a leading provider of population health management solutions. The company works with the nation's largest third-party payers, employers and providers to improve the health and wellness of their members, employees and patients while reducing costs and improving performance in key quality measures, such as NCQA's HEDIS and CMS' Stars ratings. Health Dialog's unique capabilities include analytics, a patient portal, a multi-channel coaching platform, shared decision-making tools and a 24/7 nurse line. For more information, visit www.healthdialog.com. Health Dialog is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD).

About NRECA:
The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) is the national service organization that represents the nation's more than 900 consumer-owned electric cooperatives, which provide service to 42 million people in 47 states.