Advancing Population Health through a Whole Health Framework: Recap from the Population Health Innovation Summit October 2024

During the recent Population Health Alliance Innovation Summit , I interviewed Dr. Shantanu Agrawal , Chief Health Officer at Elevance Health, about the “whole health” approach to enhancing population health. This innovative strategy integrates efforts to address the physical, mental, and social health needs of its members to drive improved health outcomes. The key components are:

• Measuring and tracking whole health through the Whole Health Index, which considers physical, behavioral, and social drivers.
• Connecting members to social services and community resources.
• Collaborating with clinicians, providers, community organizations, and other stakeholders to coordinate care and support members' health needs.

Understanding the Whole Health Approach

Unlike conventional healthcare models that target specific conditions, whole health emphasizes the interconnectedness of various health domains and recognizes the substantial impact of social drivers on health outcomes . The Whole Health Index is a population-level measure that aggregates data across members to understand health trends at the geographic or demographic level. Population-level data can help identify areas or groups with greater social needs and health disparities. This is coupled with the gold standard for assessing social needs at the individual member level through a comprehensive social needs screening,

Clinical Implications of Whole Health

Integrated, Coordinated Care: By addressing the physical, mental, and social health needs of individuals and identifying the overall needs of the population under care, the approach promotes personalized care plans, ensuring that member-specific needs are prioritized and the commitment of resources to address population-level challenges. The plans help connect individual members to the right resources and benefits, whether the health plan's supplemental benefits, community-based organizations, or the broader social safety net.

Focus on Social Determinants: Whole Health places a strong emphasis on identifying and addressing social needs. Social needs screenings, followed by actions to connect members to appropriate resources, enable this model to bridge the gap between clinical care and social support. This is particularly valuable for vulnerable populations, who may face systemic barriers to accessing healthcare services.

?Promotion of Health Equity: By considering the social contexts in which individuals live, the whole health approach promotes equitable access to quality care and the resources to support optimal health outcomes, irrespective of an individual’s socioeconomic background.

Innovation and Collaborative Efforts

The success of the whole health approach is driven by collaboration and strategic partnerships. For instance, Elevance Health actively collaborates with community-based organizations (CBOs) and other stakeholders to establish a support network aligned with the needs of the population and the PHA Framework .

Join the Population Health Alliance (PHA)

The Population Health Alliance (PHA) champions population health improvement and novel, evidence-based approaches like the Whole Health model, to advance population health. Join us and contribute to this mission. For further information on membership and engagement opportunities, visit the PHA website or email us at [email protected] .