Dive Brief:
- With population health management becoming a central function for health systems, they are gradually beginning to add "chief population health officer" to their c-suite.
- CPHOs are typically physicians with public health experience, a track record in large physician groups, other advanced degrees (often in business administration or health administration) and experience with team-based care.
- Finding a CPHO won't prove easy for health systems, experts note, as there are a very small number of doctors who fit the description.
Dive Insight:
Hiring a CPHO could prove to be a critically important strategic decision for health systems, whose future ability to function in a world of value-based payments and ACOs could revolve around this position. Not only is it critical that the new hire have the unique mix of high-level business and population health experience called for, it's important that the health system have a clear idea of the CPHO's role in their organization. And integrating a CPHO into your health system will be critical, as a position will have far less weight without buy-in from key players on your staff.