Should Oak Street Health prioritize developing new preventive care programs or improving its chronic disease management services for current patients?

Introduction

The key trade-off for Oak Street Health lies in prioritizing between developing new preventive care programs or improving chronic disease management services for current patients. This decision involves balancing proactive health measures against enhancing existing care for those with ongoing conditions. I'll analyze this trade-off by examining the business context, user impact, technical feasibility, and resource allocation to provide a strategic recommendation.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Business Context: I'm thinking Oak Street Health's revenue model might be tied to patient outcomes. Could you clarify how our reimbursement structure aligns with preventive care vs. chronic disease management?

Why it matters: Helps determine financial incentives for each option Expected answer: Value-based care model with incentives for both prevention and management Impact on approach: Would influence resource allocation based on potential ROI

• User Impact: Based on our patient demographics, I'm assuming we have a significant elderly population. Can you provide insights into the age distribution and most common chronic conditions among our patients?

Why it matters: Helps tailor solutions to patient needs and preferences Expected answer: Majority 65+, with diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease as top conditions Impact on approach: Would inform the focus of both preventive and management programs

• Technical Feasibility: Considering our current tech stack, I'm curious about our capabilities for remote patient monitoring. What's our current infrastructure for telehealth and wearable integration?

Why it matters: Determines the scope of potential solutions, especially for chronic disease management Expected answer: Basic telehealth in place, limited wearable integration Impact on approach: Would influence the complexity and timeline of proposed solutions

• Resource Allocation: Given the potential scale of both initiatives, I'm wondering about our current staffing levels. How are our care teams structured, and do we have capacity for additional programs?

Why it matters: Helps assess feasibility of implementing new programs or expanding existing ones Expected answer: Care teams at capacity, potential for selective hiring Impact on approach: Would impact the rollout strategy and potential phasing of initiatives

• Timeline Considerations: Thinking about our strategic roadmap, are there any upcoming regulatory changes or market shifts that could impact this decision?

Why it matters: Ensures alignment with external factors and long-term strategy Expected answer: Potential Medicare Advantage policy changes in the next 18 months Impact on approach: Would influence prioritization and timing of initiatives