Pharmaceutical Executive-03-01-2014

Population health is the foundation for much of what is truly new in US health reform. Pharm Exec talks to Dr. David Nash, Dean of the Jefferson Medical University School of Population Health.

Profitability now depends on metrics to help companies answer a key strategic question: "stay the course" with more investment in sales and marketing? Or "stand down" and deploy those scarce assets somewhere else?

Pharm Exec's latest survey of press issues shows that media coverage continues to remain on balance negative toward the industry, by a slight margin: 47% this year compared to a 46% average over the last seven years.

Regardless of how you define it, partnership is also an institutional necessity as big Pharma adjusts to disruptive changes in the way health services are financed and delivered. A revolution in the making, where legislation combined with market forces as well as community and stakeholder advocacy are adding fresh momentum to a population-based approach to health practice. Population health focuses on a system built around three pillars of care: preventive care, primary care, and coordinated care, all driven by a single performance metric, which is value, as evidenced through quality and outcomes. Executing around this integrative model depends entirely on partnerships, especially with non-traditional players like the physician assistant.

Transparency initiatives are multiplying, affecting research, marketing and compliance.