Historical encounter data can inform and help providers plan for the future.

One can reflect on the average encounters per patient over the past 3 years, by viewing their HDC Discover Population Pyramid.  In this view, the Population Pyramid provides a summary of demographic profile data for your practice – age and sex groupings of your patient population, as well as the number of encounters those patients have had.

To view your average encounters via the Population Pyramid:

  1. Click on the “My Population Pyramid” button on the QI Panel
  2. Click on the third radio button on the Population Pyramid legend

    The inverted triangle shape is typical when looking at average encounters where we see as patients age, on average encounter numbers increase, with older patients have more visits per year than younger patients.  In this view, the user may hover over each bar to reveal the average number of encounters per patient over 3 years for a particular segment of your patient population.
  3. Click the % relative toggle if you are interested in learning what proportion of your time is taken up with a particular gender/age group.
    In the example below, on average, 10% of this clinic’s encounters are for 80-89 year old female patients.

In comparing average encounter rates amongst primary care providers within a group practice, the impact of different panel demographics, complexity or differing styles of approaching patient encounters may be revealed.  These population views of your panel provide a way to predict what you might expect in the near future.  Your needs may be different from your practice partners.

As your panel ages into more complex, frail, or chronic illness, what support services can you predict you will need to sustain your current encounter rate or an increasing encounter rate? What would help maintain, increase or reduce your encounter rate today and what will you need help with to accomplish your goals next year?