A recent poll we ran asked: “What’s the biggest barrier to improving chronic care and population health management?”
The results were telling:
- Physician Burnout – 33%
- Low Commitment to Population Health – 33%
- Too Many Tech Solutions – 17%
- Gaps in Data & Patient Engagement – 17%
What stood out wasn’t just the individual barriers—it was how interconnected they are. Burnout isn’t just a staffing issue. It’s a systems issue. And when leadership isn’t aligned around long-term outcomes, even the best technology can’t drive meaningful change.
So what’s actually working?
1. Reframing Physician Alignment
As Dr. Lucy Hammerberg said:
“[Physicians] are going to look at you sideways if you ask them to align, but if you ask them to be the leaders… they will rise to the challenge.“
The organizations making progress aren’t asking clinicians to adapt to rigid workflows. They’re inviting them to co-lead care transformation—giving them tools that reduce friction, not add to it.
At TimeDoc, we’ve seen physician engagement increase when care coordination offloads administrative work and ensures patients get follow-up outside of rushed visits.
2. From Point Solutions to Integrated Partnerships
“There’s a plethora of tech-backed, VC-backed point solutions… but they are treating only one condition instead of treating you as a whole person.“
— Chelsea Glenn, Northwell Direct
Too many “innovations” are being stacked without strategy. The result? Tech fatigue, fragmented insights, and care teams that spend more time toggling than treating.
TimeDoc addresses this by integrating directly into clinical workflows and delivering care coordination that scales with existing teams—not against them.
3. Committing to Population Health at the Organizational Level
“Despite all the discussion about population health, there are still many hospitals and health systems not fully committing…“
— Ceci Connolly, Alliance of Community Health Plans
True population health requires infrastructure, leadership buy-in, and a willingness to shift from reactive to proactive care.
Care coordination is one of the most scalable levers for driving this shift. By monitoring patients between visits, identifying preventive care gaps, and managing social determinants, health systems can drive measurable value across populations.
4. Making Data Actionable
“We need to get the data and infrastructure right…“
— Dr. Susan Turney, Marshfield Clinic Health System
Data without context doesn’t improve care. Actionable insights—delivered at the right time, to the right care team—do.
That’s why TimeDoc doesn’t just aggregate data. Our platform surfaces real-time alerts, supports clinical decision-making, and facilitates outreach that keeps patients engaged and supported.
Final Thoughts:
The poll validated what we’ve known from the field: improving chronic care and population health requires more than software or staffing alone. It requires partnership, purpose, and a commitment to long-term change.
Want to explore how your team can go beyond the barriers?
Let’s talk about how TimeDoc supports your care teams, your patients—and your mission.
