ℹ️ Introduction
This article explains how to use Ardens Manager to support population segmentation using the Bridges to Health model. By the end of this article, you will be able to identify patient groups based on complexity and care need, and use this information to support proactive, population-based planning and targeted interventions.
Background
Bridges to Health is a population segmentation model that groups patients according to overall health need, complexity, and expected level of care requirement. Unlike condition-specific risk tools, it provides a holistic view of population health, helping organisations understand demand across the full spectrum of care.
It supports a more proactive approach to care by enabling organisations to:
Identify patients with increasing complexity or care needs
Understand population distribution across health states
Support planning of integrated and preventative care
Inform workforce and service delivery planning
Patients are grouped into a single category based on their highest level of need, using coded clinical data. These groupings should be used to support planning and prioritisation rather than individual clinical decision-making.
How Ardens Can Help
Ardens Manager provides Bridges to Health segmentation within the Population Dashboard, allowing you to view population distribution and apply segmentation across all reports.
This enables you to:
Identify patients across defined Bridges to Health categories
Understand the complexity profile of your population
Apply Bridges to Health filters across all Ardens Manager reports
Segment existing cohorts to support targeted interventions
Support population health management and proactive care planning
Bridges to Health is also available as a filter within all report breakdowns, allowing further stratification of any cohort.
✅Included in Ardens Manager National Content package: Interested in finding out more or requesting a trial? Contact accounts@ardens.org.uk
📍 Access Bridges to Health
Population-level registers
Login to Ardens Manager
Select Services from the left-hand panel
Select the Population Dashboard
Navigate to the Risk Stratification tab
Locate Bridges to Health
Use within reports
Bridges to Health can also be applied within any report in Ardens Manager.
To access this:
Click View next to a report
Select the RISK tab
🏷️Categories
Patients are grouped into a single category based on highest identified need:
Healthy
Children & Young People / Maternity
Acutely Ill
Long-Term Conditions
Serious Disability
Frailty / Dementia
Organ Failure
End of Life
Each category reflects increasing complexity and care requirement, supporting a structured view of population health need.
🔎Use Segmentation
Target patients within reports
Bridges to Health can be applied to any existing cohort to support prioritisation.
To access this:
Click View next to a report
Select the RISK tab
Open the Filter panel
Open the RISK section
Select Bridges to Health
Choose the required category or categories
Click APPLY
This updates the report to show patients within the selected segmentation group.
Use this to:
Focus on high-complexity patients within a defined group
Combine segmentation with clinical or operational reporting
Prioritise interventions based on population need
Patient-level review
To view patient-level data:
Click View next to a report
Select the PATIENTS tab
Open Patient View for individual records
Within Patient View:
Bridges to Health category is displayed alongside other risk stratification tools
This allows comparison across multiple risk models
Supports targeted review and follow-up activity
⚠️ Key Considerations
Bridges to Health is derived from coded clinical data
Accuracy depends on completeness of underlying coding
Patients are assigned to a single highest-need category only
It is designed for population segmentation, not individual diagnosis or prediction
❓ FAQs
What is Bridges to Health used for?
It is used to segment populations based on health complexity and care need to support planning and proactive care delivery.
How is a patient assigned a category?
Patients are grouped using coded clinical data. This means that patients may be part of multiple groups.
Can Bridges to Health be used with other reports?
Yes, it can be applied as a filter across all Ardens Manager reports via the RISK tab.
Does Bridges to Health replace clinical judgement?
No. It should be used to support planning and prioritisation alongside clinical judgement.
🏫 Additional Support
To further your understanding of the Ardens Manager platform:
Book training for your GP Practice, PCN or ICB.
Complete the Risk Stratification & Population Segmentation Academy module.
Contact our Support Team for support in real time.