Merck Sharp and Dohme and Premier announce population health collaboration

Merck Sharp and Dohme has announced a new population health project with Premier, a leading US healthcare improvement company.

The organisations will work together on the co-development of solutions to help improve population health, with an initial focus on reducing fracture rates for at-risk osteoporosis patients.

This work will combine expertise and assets from Merck with Premier's performance improvement framework and analytics, as well as its alliance of health systems. Other healthcare leaders will jointly develop and test effective solutions.

By collaborating, Merck and Premier hope to help improve patient care and wellness, and reduce healthcare spending, allying with the National Osteoporosis Foundation to co-develop and test performance improvement solutions, including educational initiatives to improve the quality of care for untreated patients at risk of osteoporotic fracture.

A core set of metrics for osteoporosis care and fracture prevention that align with measures endorsed by the National Quality Forum will also be developed.

Dr Julie Gerberding, executive vice-president for strategic communications, global public policy and population health at Merck Sharp and Dohme, said: "Together, Merck and Premier have the knowledge, clinical data, experience and commitment to make a real difference in population health management and bring value to our overall healthcare system."