Too often, we accept data at face value without drilling down into the nuance. This leads to strategic decisions that may not be right for your population. Dr. Sanjula Jain is the Chief Research Officer at Trilliant Health and the author of Trends Shaping the Health Economy: Behavioral Health. She explains how to question the numbers to ensure that data–not anecdotes or headlines–drives your strategy.

Key Takeaways

• Dig deeper: Don’t just look at the top line. Consider specific demand patterns for different acuity levels and different populations and tailor strategies and solutions accordingly

• Consider the future: When seeing a trend–for example, more adolescents are taking medication for depression and ADHD– consider not only the current implications but what it might mean ten years from now. Will taking these drugs at such a young age lead to comorbidities that will drive up costs?

• Always challenge assumptions–your own and those of the industry: Ask why things are how they are. Does it make sense to stay the course, or is the assumption outdated?