In This Post:
Presenters:
Christina Norwood
Manager of Population Health Operations for Ascension's employee health plan, SmartHealth
Brandon Castel
National VP, Head of Enterprise Sales
Healthcare is rapidly evolving, and organizations are under increasing pressure to validate their digital health solutions’ return on investment (ROI). The goal is to ensure they invest in solutions that deliver measurable results. This was the central theme of Sword Health’s recent webinar, which explored how employers and health plans can critically assess vendor claims around cost savings and improved health outcomes.
Last week’s session took a unique approach, which set it apart from previous webinars. Brandon Castel, Sword’s National Vice President and Head of Enterprise Sales, led the presentation alongside Christina Norwood, Population Health Operations Manager for Ascension’s employee health plan.
In their lively conversation and straightforward way, they shared insights on the real-world impact of Sword’s MSK solution. Norwood highlighted the measurable improvements that their employees experienced, and emphasized the ease of implementation and the tangible financial savings realized through Sword’s digital care platform.
About Sword Health
Sword Health’s mission is to free people from pain, and they are doing that with state-of-the-art AI-enabled technology, industry-leading service models, and a clinical foundation that no one else can compare with. Employers and health plans can drive digital care impact when presented with a clear picture of their partner’s solution.
The Challenge of Evaluating ROI
Employers and health plans are looking for clear value from digital health solution, given the increasingly challenging landscape of healthcare:
- rising costs,
- provider strain,
- care equity challenges,
- evolving regulatory landscapes
- well-integrated healthcare solutions
- increasing consumer expectations
Employers are scrutinizing musculoskeletal (MSK) care vendors, demanding precise, transparent data proving their impact on cost reduction and patient outcomes. One of the core challenges is the difficulty in accurately evaluating ROI for digital MSK solutions. One in two Americans is affected by MSK disorders, which results in significant healthcare spending.
Surgeries and opioids are frequently utilized but they often fail to tackle the issues of underlying musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.
Virtual MSK solutions offer scalable and cost-effective options. For these to gain wider acceptance, it’s essential to showcase their effectiveness through comprehensive and transparent data.
Key factors for evaluating vendor claims include:
- Independent third-party studies to validate effectiveness
- Claims-based research rather than simulation-based projections
- Matched cohort studies to ensure reliability
- Transparent methodologies and acknowledgment of study limitations
- Net savings calculations that account for program costs
Sword Health’s Proven ROI
Sword presented compelling evidence of its superior ROI compared to market competitors. Peterson Health Technology Institute states that only Sword provided documented proof of performance guarantees for its recent study on MSK vendors. Independent retrospective cohort analyses show that Sword demonstrated a 40% higher ROI than the nearest competitor.
Ascension results using Sword’s MSK solution.
Before Ascension started using Sword’s solution, they were faced with the following situation:
- 75% of members were facing significant pain levels
- 38% of members report significant limitations to their regular daily activities
- 26% were intending to pursue surgery for their MSK condition
- 1 in 5 healthcare dollars were spent on MSK
- 16% of work hours impaired or lost annually
The key findings from Sword’s pilot cohort analysis with Ascension Health included:
- $567K reduction in claims costs
- 1.9:1 net ROI
- $2.2K net savings per member
- Significant reductions in surgery intent and pain levels
A subsequent scalability study reinforced these results, showcasing a 1.83:1 net ROI and $861,698 in gross savings for Ascension. These outcomes led to Sword’s program expanding system-wide, increasing covered lives from 50,000 to 112,000 members.
Get in touch with Sword Health today!
Employers and health plans must demand verifiable data and independent validation before investing in healthcare programs. Sword’s continued commitment to ROI-backed, clinically proven MSK solutions makes it a standout leader in digital health.
As the industry moves forward, the focus on outcomes-based pricing and transparent reporting will be essential in shaping the future of digital healthcare.
For more insights, explore the following whitepapers:
https://swordhealth.com/resources/whitepapers/how-to-sell-digital-health-to-your-CFO
https://swordhealth.com/resources/whitepapers/Risk-Strategies-Consulting
For more information, contact:
Brandon Castel –
b.castel@swordhealth.com
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