These cases illustrate Dr. Foldes’ diverse approaches to help understand populations. They include installing and validating a predictive model to improve disease management, conducting statewide telephone surveys to guide a tobacco control program, and creating a web-based assessment instrument to help seniors stay independent.
Case #1: Stratify population risk to select candidates for disease management
The company
- A company that provides disease management services to a national population of retired mineworkers with a heavy illness burden.
The challenge
- Redesign a dysfunctional claims data warehouse and data mart to improve reporting and the selection of clients for disease management services.
The solution
- Dr. Foldes provided direction to redesign the data warehouse and data mart, led the design of comprehensive new client reports, and directed the selection, implementation and validation of a risk adjustment and predictive modeling capacity, facilitating risk-adjusted reporting and improved risk stratification of the population.
The result
- The company met stringent key performance indicators for the data mart, helping to retain this contract, and started to use predictive modeling results to select candidates for its disease management programs.
Case #2: Measure health risk behaviors, attitudes and beliefs
The company
- A major Minnesota health plan, collaborating with the state’s leading tobacco control organization and the state Department of Health.
The challenge
- Develop and implement repeatable surveys of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, physical activity and nutrition to track the progress of major public health initiatives on these health risk behaviors and related beliefs and attitudes.
The solution
- Leading the health plan’s team, Dr. Foldes worked with multi-disciplinary teams to design and supervise the implementation of innovative statewide telephone surveys on these risk behaviors.
The result
- These surveys are recognized as Minnesota’s most comprehensive, valid and reliable measures of these health risk behaviors and related beliefs and attitudes. Repeated administration of these surveys led to documentation of reductions in the prevalence of adult tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke in Minnesota (methods and results are available at http://www.mnadulttobaccosurvey.org/).
Case #3: Assess risk to help seniors stay independent
The company
- An innovative mid-size company advancing a new model to help seniors age independently and at home.
The challenge
- Develop a comprehensive web-based self-report assessment instrument to produce individually tailored recommendations for seniors.
The solution
- Dr. Foldes collaborated with a multi-disciplinary clinical team to develop a valid and reliable risk assessment instrument for seniors encompassing the domains of home safety, mobility, social interaction and health and functioning. The 20 minute assessment provides users with an “independence score” and prioritized, tailored recommendations to help them maximize their independence as they age.
The result
- The instrument forms the core of a proprietary web site and became the foundation of one of the company’s three strategic business units.
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