Nashville Region Health Competitiveness Initiative

The Research Center of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce commissioned FTI Consulting Inc.’s Center for Healthcare Economics and Policy (“Center”) to collaborate with the Chamber on the development of data and analyses for the Nashville Region Health Competitiveness Initiative. This Nashville Region Health Competitiveness Initiative: 2017 Report (“2017 Report”) represents an update and an important extension of actionable data, metrics, and analyses in the Center’s 2015 collaboration with the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and stakeholders - “Assessment of Nashville Region Health, Cost, Access, and Quality: Results of Pilot Study.”¹

The 2017 Report presents current actionable data and metrics to enable stakeholders to track both status and progress in health conditions and their impact on utilization and cost and in access to health care services for the Nashville Region as compared to its peer cities.

The 2017 Report adds new analyses for richer insights into the workforce impact of chronic conditions and health behaviors and on the Nashville Region’s competitiveness. Increasingly, business leaders, healthcare providers, and community stakeholders seek to understand the economic impact of health on residents and the economic well-being and attractiveness of a region. Health represents a vital asset for a region.

The 2017 Report assesses economic and workforce impact issues by analyzing the prevalence of chronic conditions and health behaviors for the Nashville workforce and the resulting demands on healthcare services. It develops Nashville region-specific medical and productivity costs associated with three health behaviors and conditions that significantly affect the health status of Nashville’s workforce – diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.

The 2017 report examines these conditions and their associated healthcare utilization and time away from work for two age cohorts (specifically, those aged 25-44 and 45-64). This enables assessment of the workforce implications for specific industry sectors in the Nashville region that may be more dependent on older or younger workforce members.

By focusing on the linkages between health, access, and costs and their implications for economic and personal well-being, the 2017 Report provides the Community Partners and business leaders in the Nashville region with actionable data and information to identify the most important issues and priorities relevant for the area’s competitiveness. The analyses also focus on metrics presented in comparative fashion for Nashville and its peer cities. These can inform potential interventions and strategies that can contribute important benefits for employers, residents, and the community.