A transformative shift is underway in American healthcare.

Healthcare systems and human service programs have traditionally operated on a reactive model: treating health issues only after they become (expensive) crises. In recent years, entities across all verticals of the health industry are shifting toward a proactive, data-driven care model.

When done well, the strategy significantly reduces healthcare spending and duplication of effort by identifying and addressing non-medical and economic needs that influence health long before they escalate, enabling upstream interventions that save lives and dollars.

Building the robust technology backbone for this new type of digital ecosystem—one with secure communication and coordinated analytics—was historically a challenge. Today, these powerful tools have become widely accessible, empowering entities of all sizes, from county governments to individual health providers.

In fact, in the hands of more local entities, this forward-thinking approach does more than make healthcare delivery more efficient. It fosters collaboration with local health and human service partners and community-based organizations (CBOs), creating many more unique and tailored avenues for data-driven interventions.

This keeps everyone on the same page, eliminating silos, duplication, and most importantly, focuses on the outcome. In addition to healthcare savings, this can generate savings within other programs dedicated to human wellbeing, all while improving individuals’ economic stability.

The results of this model are not just theoretical.

Summit County, Ohio: Summit County’s NEXT Program enhanced operational efficiency and produced major savings. The local government saved an estimated $3 million in its first year by increasing financial security among participants, reducing their reliance on public benefits. At the same time, 88% of end users reported that program capacity grew and more than two-thirds reported improved community collaboration. It also improved other services. The local government freed up 591 administrative hours annually, and local non-governmental community organizations received $190,000 for their services.

Southwest, Virginia: In a study done in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association, Ballad Health reported an estimated $825,000 in annualized cost savings per 1,000 patients based on reduced emergency department utilization alone. Fifty-nine percent of participants in this program were insured by Medicaid.

Upstate New York: The Healthy Eating Pilot Program showed a possible savings of up to 13% in total healthcare costs. This pilot connected those with Type 2 Diabetes to medically appropriate food assistance. Fifty percent of participants lowered their A1C levels and had one more “healthy day” a month, making them able to do more.

The Blueprint for Proactive, Affordable Care

When assessing ways to generate outcomes like those above for your constituency, there are three key areas to design for:

• Leverage Data for Early Intervention: By integrating data from health and community care services, your agencies can proactively identify individuals at high risk for negative health outcomes. This enables timely support that prevents costly emergency care, reduces long-term healthcare expenditures, and maintains stability for the individual so they can be self-sustaining.
• Implement Proactive Care Management: To significantly reduce health outcomes, especially post-discharge, it is critical to ensure that patients are connected to essential community-based services, such as access to nutritious food and behavioral health. Program after program proves simply providing an individual with a list of services doesn’t work—supporting their connection to the services pays for itself many times over.
• Optimize Resource Allocation: By creating a clear, comprehensive view of population needs, you can more accurately forecast demand for services. This ensures taxpayer dollars and public resources are directed where they will have the greatest impact. This same mechanism also allows for straightforward assessments of what is working and what isn’t.

Ultimately, this shift toward proactive care is not just about fiscal responsibility; it's about delivering better, more personalized services. While the concept is now gaining national attention, it has been a reality for Unite Us for over a decade.

Unite Us was founded in 2013 by two military veterans, Dan Brillman and Taylor Justice, who saw firsthand how their peers struggled to navigate a fragmented landscape of resources. They set out to build a technology platform that could create a "no wrong door" approach, first for veterans and now for everyone.

Ready to shift from reactive to proactive? Learn how our technology can be your force multiplier.