Segmentation – John Hopkins
Segmentation – John Hopkins adjusted Clinical Groups.
As part of our ongoing work in the surgery to improve how we plan care and manage demand, we have now introduced Patient Need Group (PNG) segmentation within the practice.
This is a nationally recognised tool developed by Johns Hopkins University and being implemented locally across the NHS. It helps us better understand the overall health needs of our population, rather than focusing on single conditions.
Patients are grouped into 11 clinical categories, as seen below. This will appear on the NHS app under Test results.
What are PNGs and how will it be used?
Patient Need Groups categorise patients into the above groups based on the complexity and intensity of their health needs rather than your medical conditions. These groups consider factors like the number of chronic conditions, the severity of illness and the level of support a patient might need. The patients in a particular group have similar patterns of need.
For example:
Red ACG 10,11 = Complex Care Needs: Patients with multiple chronic conditions, requiring regular monitoring and a coordinated care approach.
Amber ACG 5-9 = Stable Chronic Conditions: Patients with chronic conditions that are well-managed and require occasional support to maintain their stability.
Green ACG 1-4 = Healthy: Patients without significant health issues who require less intervention and could benefit from preventive care. As patient needs change over time, their categorisation changes with them. PNG therefore offers an indication of a patient’s background health, at a point in time.
What are the benefits of having this information available on patient records:
-Personalised Care: Healthcare providers can use ACGs to tailor their care plans. This means patients receive the specific type of care they need, whether it’s more frequent monitoring, specialised treatment, or preventive care.
-Improved Coordination: PNGs help healthcare teams coordinate more effectively. If a patient has complex needs, the care team can work together to ensure all aspects of their health are addressed, from medication management to lifestyle support.
-Better Resource Allocation: Hospitals and GP Surgeries can allocate resources more efficiently based on the needs of different patient groups. This ensures that patients with the most urgent needs receive timely care, while those with less critical conditions are managed appropriately.
-Proactive Health Management: For patients in lower-need groups, PNGs encourage preventive care and early intervention. This can help them maintain their health status and avoid complications in the future.
-Enhanced Communication: PNGs facilitate better communication between patients and healthcare providers. By understanding which group a patient falls into, together they can have clearer discussions about what to expect from the care they receive and what actions they can take to manage their health.
Why don’t I have a Johns Hopkins adjusted clinical groups score in my test results?
If you have previously opted out of sharing your health record with local health services and/or used the national data opt-out, you will not have a score.
If you wish to opt out, you can do so by choosing ‘national data opt-out’: Make your choice about sharing data from your health records – NHS
