Evernorth Health Services is using advanced analytics from SAS to help determine the next best action a patient can take to improve their health outcomes. The company is analyzing historic claims data, along with demographic and financial data to build a personalized care path that optimizes a patient’s health.
Healthcare IT Today had the chance to speak with Casey Dudek, Business Analytics Advisor at Evernorth Health Services (EHS), about their analytics work. We wanted to know what types of data they were taking into consideration, how they were using the SAS analytics platform, and what are they working on next.
Improving Outcomes with Data
EHS grew out of Cigna and provides innovative health solutions that are designed to deliver affordable access to health care services for any employer, health plan, or government program. Dudek’s work at EHS is focused on patients with one or more chronic conditions.
“I’m really focused on improving the health outcomes for these patients,” explained Dudek. “The goal is to align the next best action a patient can take to improve their health so that they have the best outcome possible.”
To do this, Dudek is blending historical claims data, which she has ready access to, with demographic data and other external data sources. This combination of data builds a more holistic picture of a patient that goes beyond their diagnosis and clinical information.
For Dudek, this holistic view is critical.
“Surgery is an expensive form of treatment,” said Dudek. “But when you consider the whole person and their overall health, surgery may lead to the best outcome for them because after they have it, they will be a happy, healthier person that will not need as much care.”
Ultimately that will reduce the overall healthcare costs for that individual AND reduce the overall burden on the healthcare system.
“A healthy customer is a less expensive customer,” stated Dudek.
Watch the interview with Casey Dudek to learn:
- Why giving all stakeholders a voice, including clinicians and patients, is critical for data analytics projects
- What the “Goldilocks Zone” and why Dudek strives for it on every project
- How Evernorth deals with normalizing and accessing different data sources
Learn more about Evernorth Health Services at https://www.evernorth.com/
Learn more about SAS at https://www.sas.com/
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SAS covered the expenses for Healthcare IT Today to travel to their conference.
