How to predict and meet patient needs like a pro

Every patient has visible needs—the cough that needs a diagnosis; the pain that demands relief.

But beneath the surface lie countless invisible needs: The looming risk of chronic illness, the challenge of navigating complex care pathways, the desire for truly personalized support. Meeting these unspoken, often unseen, needs is the hallmark of truly exceptional healthcare.

The challenge, however, is that knowing what patients need is easier said than done. If you’re waiting for patients to tell you what they need, then you’re already behind.

Healthcare organizations that lead today are the ones who predict needs before they arise. They understand not just who their patients are, but where they’re going, what kind of care they’ll seek next, and why they might leave your network for it.

In this guide, we’ll discuss strategies your organization can implement to more proactively predict and meet the evolving needs of every patient.

Strengthen network integrity to maintain a cohesive patient journey

As you know, the patient’s journey doesn’t stop once they’re discharged from the hospital or leave the clinic. And yet, too often, care becomes fragmented the moment a referral leaves your system.

When patients stray from your network—whether for specialist visits, imaging, or post-acute care—continuity breaks down. Studies suggest that when continuity of care breaks down, there is a risk of poorer care quality and patient outcomes. Not to mention that poor network integrity will also hurt your bottom line. When a patient stays within your network, they benefit from integrated communication, shared medical records, and a unified approach to their health, reducing fragmentation and improving results.

To strengthen your network integrity, start with data. Every patient who receives a referral to an out-of-network provider represents a leak in your system—and a clue. Claims and encounter data can reveal leakage points: Are patients going elsewhere for cardiology consults, imaging, or physical therapy? Are there geographic gaps in access? Or are slow referrals pushing patients toward more convenient—but unaffiliated—options?

Once outmigration patterns are clear, close the gaps by making internal referrals effortless. Integrate referral workflows into the EHR. Standardize pathways for high-volume conditions. Equip referring providers with transparent data on in-network availability, wait times, and successes so they can make informed choices quickly.

Post-acute care is another major vulnerability. If patients are sent to unaffiliated SNFs, rehab centers, or home health providers, the system loses visibility—and influence. Build preferred networks of high-performing post-acute partners. Coordinate discharge planning closely. Monitor readmissions and outcomes to reinforce alignment.

Predictive analytics adds another layer of strength. By identifying high-risk patients likely to need complex care or follow-ups, care teams can intervene earlier, before the next handoff is missed. This will help you and your teams think beyond reactive management and into anticipatory care coordination.

And don’t forget the patient experience. Many patients don’t realize which providers are in-network. Make it easy with clear digital directories, guided scheduling, centralized navigation, and consistent education at the point of care. The simpler the journey, the more likely they’ll stay on track.

Build the right service lines to meet the needs of the market

Healthcare service lines are essentially groupings of related medical services within a facility or practice that share commonalities. Offering new services is an important step toward providing exceptional service to patients, filling care gaps, and driving more revenue, whether you’re a large health system or a small physician group.

Too often, however, organizations expand based on industry trends or institutional legacy rather than the actual needs of their population. The result? Underperforming specialties, missed opportunities, and patients going elsewhere for care you could have provided.

To build service lines that succeed, start with market intelligence. Use all-payor claims data, demographic analysis, and population health indicators to pinpoint what your community truly needs. Are you in a fast-growing suburban area with rising demand for OB/GYN and pediatrics? Or an aging population with a spike in cardiology, orthopedics, and chronic disease management?

Next, assess competitive saturation. Some specialties may be in high demand but already oversupplied in your region. Others may be underserved and ripe for strategic growth. Service line decisions should be driven by a blend of patient need, provider supply, and local care patterns.

Equally important is how care is delivered. Expanding a service line doesn’t always mean building a new department or acquiring a new practice. Sometimes it means extending access through outpatient centers, ambulatory surgery sites, or virtual care models. Patients don’t just need the service—they need it close by, affordable, and easy to access.

Finally, track performance and evolve as needed. Use analytics to monitor volume, leakage, outcomes, and ROI. When done right, new service lines become strategic pillars for your organization.

Expect and plan for the type of care patients need

These days, simply providing high-quality care isn’t enough. Patients expect the right kind of care, at the right time, and in the right place (bonus points for care at the right price, too). And increasingly, they expect providers to meet them where they are, not the other way around.

This means predicting what type of care patients will need next is now a strategic necessity. Predictive analytics can help you determine the type of care patients need.

Using historical claims, clinical data, and social determinants of health (SDOH), healthcare organizations can forecast which patients are most likely to need high-touch care, including those at risk for readmission, frequent visitors, or patients managing multiple chronic conditions.

Then look at care modality preferences. The pandemic normalized telehealth and accelerated demand for convenience. But virtual care isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Younger, tech-savvy populations may favor remote visits, while older or complex patients may need in-person continuity. Behavioral health might work well virtually; post-op follow-ups may not.

Health systems that understand these nuances can tailor care models by region, demographic, and condition. Consider offering flexible, hybrid access points, such as the clinic, at home, or digitally, based on what’s clinically appropriate and personally convenient.

Next, address barriers to access before they derail outcomes. Transportation gaps, food insecurity, and housing instability are all central to how, when, and whether patients engage. Layering SDOH insights into care planning helps anticipate and prevent drop-offs that lead to avoidable ER visits or worsening conditions.

Operationally, use this data to guide capacity planning and workforce strategy. If rising demand for mental health care is showing up in your claims data, do you have the therapists, psychiatrists, or digital tools to support it? If more patients are avoiding hospitals for minor procedures, are your outpatient services designed for that shift?

The health systems that get this right will not only meet patient needs—they’ll earn long-term trust and loyalty, all while generating revenue and growing in a rapidly evolving market.

What it all means

Healthcare is no longer just about treating what’s in front of you, it’s about preparing for what’s coming next. Organizations that invest in network strength, align services to real demand, and anticipate care preferences will be better prepared for the twists and turns that influence the healthcare industry.

The ability to predict and meet patient needs comes down to data: The right data, applied in the right ways. Our datasets and analytical tools can help you illuminate referral patterns, find care gaps, understand service demand, see patient behavior, and so much more. To learn more about how our solutions can help you act with clarity and confidence, start a free trial today.