According to Kindig and Stoddart (2003), population health is defined as the health outcomes of a group of individuals. While some perspectives consider population health only as the distribution of health outcomes within a group, there are others who are concerned with social and environmental factors, policies, and interventions as indicators of population health.
As a health care professional, you want to assist in your local community by addressing the determinants and distribution of the health outcomes of a given population. You plan to present your findings, including your analysis of approaches to connecting public health and the health care system, to the department of public health. You will demonstrate how your skill in population health can improve individuals’ health outcomes through improved care.
Assessment Deliverable
Create a 13- to 16-slide narrated Microsoft PowerPoint presentation in which you:
Identify 2 different population health issues.
Compare how the public health departments approached each chosen population health issue.
Explain lessons learned from past population health issues.
Recommend ways to improve the approach to population health and using the health care systems in the future.
Describe how you would measure if the recommendations improved population health.
Format your references according to APA guidelines.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Population health refers to the health outcomes of a group of individuals. As a healthcare professional, it is important to analyze and address the determinants and distribution of health outcomes of a given population. This presentation aims to identify two different population health issues and compare how public health departments approached each issue. It will also explain lessons learned from past population health issues, recommend ways to improve the approach to population health and using healthcare systems in the future, and describe the methods to measure if the recommendations improved population health.
Q: What are two different population health issues?
A: The two different population health issues are cardiovascular disease and obesity. Cardiovascular disease is a condition that affects the heart and blood vessels that can cause heart attacks and strokes. Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has become a health risk leading to chronic diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cancer.
Q: How did the public health departments approach each chosen population health issue?
A: The public health departments approached cardiovascular disease and obesity by implementing various interventions to improve population health outcomes. For cardiovascular disease, public health departments developed educational campaigns, imposed regulations on food labeling, and provided clinical management programs for high-risk populations. For obesity, public health departments developed programs to encourage physical activity, implemented school nutrition programs and policies, and imposed regulations on food marketing to children.
Q: What lessons have been learned from past population health issues?
A: Past population health issues have taught us that addressing determinants of health such as social, economic, and environmental factors can effectively improve population health outcomes. It is also important to implement interventions that target different levels of society and to involve community members in the planning and implementation of interventions.
Q: How can we improve the approach to population health and using healthcare systems in the future?
A: To improve the approach to population health and using healthcare systems in the future, we need to focus on addressing social determinants of health, increasing health literacy, and building equitable and accessible healthcare systems. We also need to establish partnerships between healthcare providers and public health departments to coordinate efforts and identify gaps in healthcare delivery.
Q: How would you measure if the recommendations improved population health?
A: The recommendations’ effectiveness in improving population health can be measured by tracking changes in health outcome indicators such as morbidity and mortality rates, the prevalence of the targeted health condition, and health behavior changes. Surveys, health screenings, and medical records can also be used to collect data on the population’s health status and demographics over time.
