AU Operations Management in Social and Health Care Industry Paper

Read the Health Affairs article (Vuik et al. 2016) concerning the use of data analytics on population segmentation. Especially look at the Exhibit 1 in the article (p. 771), which lists the population segments that are being used in the management of population health in London.

This goal is to assume the role of a ministry worker, who needs to create an executive summary for political decision-makers on national social and health care trends in patient levels and cost development.

1) Create a similar table of Finland (5 points).

-Decide proxy values for each of the 15 segments from SotkaNet database. 

Table should include, at least, the following columns: Segment | Definition of segment | proxy value for patient count | proxy value for care costs

-The proxy values do not need to refer to the exactly same population as in the Exhibit 1. For example, instead of “Mostly healthy”, you can use the number of the whole population, as it likely will follow the same trend (or potentially will not, please argue on your choices and the possible flaws on those). You may have to sum up some groups from SotkaNet data to get a comprehensive picture of some groups (such as socially excluded groups).

2. Analyse trends in patient amounts (5 points) and costs of care (5 points) for each segment.

-If possible, create charts depicting the trends on the time-scale 2015 to 2019. As we are interested in potential cost-creating segments, you may want to report the absolute amount of patients in each group. Decide if you want to report ratios of the whole population. Be coherent in the form of numbers you are using. You can either create one chart or several charts. For some segments, it is likely that you need to report all the age groups separately to present the trends properly. The chart will probably become unclear if everything is reported in the same chart.

There is no one perfect way to answer to this question. If you cannot report some numbers or fail to find them. Report this separately.

3. Communicate your findings (5 points).

Please answer, in full sentences, to the next few questions. The format and tone of your answer should be close to the ministry-level executive summary – that is, you should sound like a professional who has performed a well-considered analysis, and is now clearly articulating the implications. Length should be over 200 words, below 600 words (~300 words should be enough for full points).

-What are the strategically most important trends? Are there some unexpected trends, that you find surprising (e.g., something not changing)? Highlight the most important ones first.

-Are the trends focusing on a) growing/declining patient levels or b) growing/declining costs or c) both?

-What do you suggest should be done in 5 years time scale?