Point Solution Fatigue? Zooming Out to the Population Level Can Help

Tasked with reducing healthcare costs while improving patient outcomes and experience, many health insurance providers are mobilizing an array of add-on solutions — each one focused on filling a gap or addressing a specific condition to enhance some subset of care. These “point solutions” help payers and employers deliver more comprehensive services, but providing too many options can be overwhelming, causing an exhaustion known as “point solution fatigue.” 

With thousands of digital health solutions to navigate — from telehealth platforms to fitness apps and nutrition trackers — payers face a patchwork of disparate tools that don’t actually move the needle toward integrated care. Members are equally frustrated, feeling confused about their plan’s offerings and even facing delays in care as a result. This fatigue can leave patients struggling to navigate the healthcare maze, while leaving payers with underutilized solutions that fail to deliver the intended value.

As daunting as this fatigue seems, digital health solutions can effectively support members, especially if they are more broadly applicable across the population, rather than only for a single condition. This population-wide approach offers members who are most in need of guidance a more personalized journey and a more seamless healthcare experience — unlocking the best outcomes and cost savings possible.

Focusing on point solutions is missing the point

While point solutions serve a vital role in expanding the services that health plans and employers can offer, too much of anything can be a bad thing. One report identified over 1,400 digital health ventures worldwide, while another reported more than 350,000 mobile health apps. It’s no wonder more than half of U.S. consumers have trouble navigating the healthcare landscape due to its complexity.  

Health insurance providers feel the burden, too. It’s estimated that 50% of organizations offer between four and nine health-related point solutions, according to one study, while others put this number even higher. On average, HR leaders spend one-third of their workweek managing point solution vendors, and roughly two-thirds of them worry about siloed solutions and lack of integration. 

The reason why most digital health point solutions fail is because the fragmented offerings are too diffuse to effectively solve specific healthcare challenges — especially for patients facing complex, chronic or comorbid conditions. Solutions are often fragmented by condition, instead of more broadly supporting patients with challenging diagnoses and treatments for a wide array of conditions. 

On the other hand, a population solution (a tool that can apply across a member population, instead of to just a segment), can deliver for health plans that are looking to move the needle on lowered costs and better health outcomes. 

Selecting effective population solutions

At first glance, virtual second opinions (VSOs) may seem like just another telehealth point solution. But for members who would benefit from specialized care, medical VSOs can supplement chronic condition management programs to add significant value for patients and payers alike — helping members manage complex and costly conditions while helping payers manage costs.

VSOs apply to any eligible member who needs a second look at their existing diagnosis or treatment plan or who is unsure of the path forward. This population solution might be available to everyone, but it’s typically used by patients when they need it most (those with life-altering diagnoses or treatment plans), maximizing its impact. 

But, how do you know when it’s worth adding a population solution like VSOs to your health plan’s tech stack? The best tools should check these boxes: 

• Personalized support – The most effective health tools put patients first, catering to their individual needs with concierge-like service. Rather than offering generic apps, patient-centric solutions offer personalized support to members — especially those facing complex or chronic conditions. 
• Clinical validity – When comparing solutions, remember that quality care and clinical expertise are critical — even more important than technology — when providing the experiences that healthcare consumers crave. Alarmingly, nearly half (44%) of the “clinically-focused startups” in one evaluation for robust clinical evidence scored zero, and only 20% scored higher than five on a scale of 35 — highlighting a startling gap in evidence.  That’s why it’s crucial to select a medical VSO that connects patients with licensed providers, rather than an educational VSO, which doesn’t involve clinical care delivery, but just provides basic recommendations based on similar cases.
• Seamless integration – The most effective population solutions come from those who understand they’re not solo players offering isolated tools, but part of a larger healthcare ecosystem. VSOs enable patients to more easily incorporate second opinion recommendations into their plan of care locally, which is good for the majority of patients who want their own doctor to maintain their care. 
• High impact – Savings are where population solutions really shine – by making the highest-value impact for those with the most acute diagnoses or high-cost care plans. Realigning treatment plans toward more appropriate care and helping patients bypass unnecessary surgery and hospitalization can cut costs by thousands of dollars depending on the condition. 

The best solutions, in summary, are those that facilitate better outcomes while reducing costs — combining member health and satisfaction with healthcare savings. 

When patient-centric solutions are strategically integrated to streamline the healthcare experience and deliver appropriate care wherever patients are, health plans can engage their member population in more cost-effective, personalized care, rather than just a one-off digital app.

Photo: Getty Images, pixelliebe

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