Can better care for complex patients transform the health system?

Abstract

The idea that a health system can recover significant value by focusing on better care management for a relatively small cohort of high needs patients has taken flight. Given a poor fiscal outlook, and anticipating the growing number of people who will come to rely on the healthcare delivery system, health system leaders are keen to seize opportunities to find greater value within the existing health system investment. This paper discusses what it means to be a so-called "high cost user," and how health systems have approached improving care and services for this population. It also describes Ontario's particular experience in launching the Health Links initiative as a "ground game" for health system transformation.