Patient Segmentation

Segmentation In Population Health Analytics

Segmentation is one of several analytical techniques that can be used to understand how disease and morbidity are distributed within a population. The purpose of segmentation is to group together patients who share similar needs and will benefit from the same type of intervention or treatment. The resulting segmentation analysis can inform the design of care management programs that help achieve the triple aim of improved quality, better outcomes and lower cost.

John Hoskins ACG Segmentation ystem 

As part of an initiative to provide targeted healthcare to patients who need it the most, we have recently embedded the John Hopkins University segmentation algorithm into our patient clinical records.

This gives each patient a Adjusted Clinical Group (ACG) rating, on a scale of 1 to 11, according to how complex their healthcare needs are.  Patients are grouped by chronic conditions and severity of illness, also taking other factors into account such as their age or frailty.

These 11 mutually exclusive and hierarchical groups are also aggregated into a traffic light ‘signal’ to indicate a patient or a group of patients’ broader needs (Red, Amber, and Green).

For more information about the John Hoskins system click here

You may notice a test result appear in your NHS app referring to segmentation.

How does this help patient care?

When a member of staff opens a patient record it will display which group the patient has been assigned to which may help with decision making involving the patient’s care.

While we get used to the system ourselves and iron out any teething problems, we would be grateful if patients hold off contacting us to find out why they have assigned a particular rating. This is auto-generated from an algorithm and outside our control.