Amy Kazmierczak, Chuck Hollowell and Trey Sutten
Periscope Health Analytics – MICRO Spring 2022
Published August 10, 2022
As part of our ‘Meet Our Founders’ series today, we introduce Amy Kazmierczak, Chuck Hollowell and Trey Sutten, Co-Founders of Periscope Health Analytics based in Charlotte, NC. Periscope Health Analytics uses predictive analytics to identify health plans’ most at-risk members, allowing plans to engage these members proactively, improving health outcomes and reducing costs.
Q: What problem are you trying to solve and what influenced you to start your company?
A: We have worked in the healthcare industry for decades, managing the care of millions of individuals, many of which have complex behavioral health needs. One of the hardest – and most important – parts of the job for a health plan is to identify which members need the most attention and when. Too often, health plans make important decisions about care using historic or stale information – it can feel like you are driving with your rearview mirror.
For example, when a hospital bills a health plan for its services, the health plan might see that one of its members was in the emergency department multiple times over the past two months – but the plan didn’t know that happened until the hospital submitted its claims a month or two after the fact. Once someone’s health condition gets to this point, it can be really challenging – and costly – to help get things back on the right path. It would be much better to be able to identify high risk members trending towards bad outcomes before they go to the emergency department. By identifying these individuals early, health plans can intervene early, with member engagement strategies tailored to the member’s needs.
That is the essence of what we are building at Periscope. We are using predictive analytics to give health plans proactive insights into their membership. Health plans can then optimize the use of their resources in ways that will improve member wellness and bend the cost curve in the right direction. We want to help our health plan partners stop driving with their rearview mirrors and see what’s coming, far enough in advance that they can make a positive impact.
Q: What does the road ahead look like for your company?
A: We are excited about the wide array of possibilities that can be unlocked by this type of data science. We are particularly focused on developing models that provide insights on members who may develop a chronic health condition, and why. We know from numerous studies – and our first-hand experience – that a person’s mental health is a major factor in understanding their overall health outlook, and untreated mental health is a major driver of poor physical health. The same is true for their environment. We want to understand the individual’s housing situation, whether they are socially isolated, and how they are doing with food and employment. To really see into the future, we need to bring it all together – connect the mind to the body and the individual to their environment. We believe that by targeting the right members, at the right time, and with more tailored and impactful interventions, we will help to improve the health and wellness for individuals and communities across our country.
While visiting Charlotte, the Periscope team recommends:
- The U.S. National Whitewater Center is a really unique and fun venue with lots of outdoor activities, concerts, and other events for all ages. If you are new to Charlotte you need to try Supperland, the rustic-chic steakhouse in a former church specializing in hearty southern dishes and cocktails. It is an amazing and fun experience.
Support the Periscope team by:
- We are always looking to network with individuals in the healthcare industry who have an interest in predictive analytics.
