What Works and What’s Worth It In Digital Health, with Meg Barron

A healthcare solution can look successful on paper and still fail the people it was built to help. So how can employers separate real impact from impressive numbers? Meg Barron, Managing Director of Engagement & Outreach at the Peterson Health Technology Institute, shares how organizations can evaluate healthcare technologies through evidence-based research, meaningful outcomes, and stronger partnerships with vendors.  She discusses why engagement metrics alone fall short, how performance-based contracts drive accountability, and what leaders should look for when choosing solutions that deliver results.In this episode, you'll learn:How evidence-based evaluations can help employers identify healthcare solutions that deliver measurable clinical and financial outcomesWhy traditional engagement metrics fall short and what meaningful engagement should look like for different healthcare programsStrategies for aligning with vendors upfront through performance-based contracts, clear expectations, and outcome-driven partnershipsHighlights: (00:00) Meet Meg Barron(01:32) How PHTI evaluates digital health solutions objectively(03:36) Why employers need evidence beyond vendor claims(05:07) The three questions that define a successful solution(08:11) Why meaningful outcomes matter more than app usage(11:09) How centers of excellence create predictable healthcare experiences(12:55) Building contracts around outcomes instead of promises(15:55) The seven elements of effective performance-based contracts(23:52) Why communication strategy impacts healthcare engagement(24:05) How AI and new channels could transform benefits access(26:11) Connecting fragmented benefits into one employee experience(30:48) The future of smarter healthcare purchasing decisions Resources:Nancy Ryerson’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancyryerson/Meg Barron’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megbarronLantern’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lantern-specialty-care/about/