High-Need Patients: The Focus of Mount Sinai Health System’s Clinical Services

Who Are High-Need Patients?

High-need individuals tend to be disproportionately older, female, white, less educated, and publicly insured, with fair to poor self-reported health. They are also more susceptible to lack of coordination within the health care system.

Demographics of High-Need Patients

• Age: Older
• Gender: Female
• Race: White
• Education: Less educated
• Insurance: Publicly insured
• Health: Fair to poor self-reported health

Impact on Healthcare System

Despite making up only 5% of the patient population, high-need patients account for nearly half of the spending on healthcare in the United States.

Mount Sinai Health System’s Approach

Leaders at Mount Sinai Health System have focused on developing a new generation of clinical services for high-need patients by drawing heavily on strategies pioneered by others across the nation. Central to effective strategies is listening – to patients, colleagues, and other pioneering organizations.

Strategies for High-Need Patients

Listening to Patients

Listening to high-need patients is crucial in understanding their unique needs and developing targeted interventions. This includes actively engaging with patients to identify their challenges, concerns, and preferences.

Collaboration with Colleagues

Building strong relationships with colleagues is essential in providing comprehensive care to high-need patients. This includes working closely with primary care physicians, specialists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure a coordinated approach.

Learning from Others

Mount Sinai Health System is committed to learning from other pioneering organizations that have successfully implemented innovative strategies for high-need patients. This includes sharing best practices, discussing challenges, and identifying opportunities for improvement.

Conclusion

High-need patients require specialized care that is tailored to their unique needs. By listening to patients, collaborating with colleagues, and learning from others, Mount Sinai Health System is committed to providing the highest level of care to these individuals. Our goal is to improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance the overall well-being of high-need patients.

FAQs

• What is a high-need patient?
  • High-need patients are individuals who require specialized care due to their complex healthcare needs.
• What are the demographics of high-need patients?
  • High-need patients tend to be older, female, white, less educated, and publicly insured, with fair to poor self-reported health.
• What is the impact of high-need patients on the healthcare system?
  • Despite making up only 5% of the patient population, high-need patients account for nearly half of the spending on healthcare in the United States.
• What is the approach of Mount Sinai Health System to high-need patients?
  • Mount Sinai Health System is committed to developing a new generation of clinical services for high-need patients by drawing on strategies pioneered by others across the nation. Central to this approach is listening to patients, collaborating with colleagues, and learning from others.