Understanding Population Health and Prevention  

Healthcare plays a vital role in our society, keeping individuals healthy and safe. But how do we keep the population of an entire community in good health? It’s a very different challenge and, although physicians play a role, the efforts are usually led by experts in Population Health and Prevention (PHP). In this blog, we’ll explore the role these teams play in society and how you can start your career in this exciting new field.  

What is population health and prevention? 

Population Health and Prevention is a fairly new term, but it shares many of the same responsibilities as those working in Public Health. The main difference is that Public Health focuses on larger populations such as entire cities, or even a country. Population Health and Prevention is more focused. It examines how the well-being of smaller communities is managed. For the most part, knowledge and research built for Public Health will apply directly to Population Health and Prevention efforts.  

 How do you measure population health? 

Measuring the health of a population is a complicated endeavor. There are several approaches organizations take depending on the data available and the task at hand. In general, researchers in the field study life expectancy, infant mortality rates, and maternal mortality rates to get an idea of the overall health of a region. But there are specific cases that may call for different methods. For instance, in the case of a pandemic, teams turn their focus to infection numbers, reported symptoms, hospitalizations, and deaths that result from the disease they’re tracking.   

How is all this data collected? Collecting data is a multifaceted process involving various methods and techniques. From surveys and interviews to electronic health records and disease registries, there are many ways to collect and parse accurate information. These invaluable insights not only aid in tracking disease outbreaks but also form the foundation for evidence-based policies that promote healthier living. 

What are the Main Population Health Indicators? 

Although there are many ways to measure the health of a community, here are five main common ways this data is gathered and compiled.  

Life Expectancy: Life expectancy is the average number of years a person is expected to live, assuming the current mortality rates remain constant. It provides an overall assessment of the health and mortality conditions of a population. 

Infant Mortality Rate: The infant mortality rate (IMR) is the number of deaths of infants under one year of age per 1,000 live births. A low IMR is a sign of good maternal and child health care and overall population health. 

Disease Prevalence: Disease prevalence refers to the proportion of individuals in a population who have been diagnosed with a specific disease or condition at a given point in time. Common examples include diabetes prevalence, hypertension prevalence, and obesity prevalence. 

Healthy Life Expectancy (Disability-Adjusted Life Years – DALYs): Healthy life expectancy measures the number of years a person can expect to live in good health, free from disability or major illnesses. DALYs combine years of life lost due to premature death and years lived with a disability to provide a comprehensive measure of the overall health burden. 

Access to Healthcare: This indicator assesses the extent to which a population has access to essential healthcare services. It includes factors such as the availability of healthcare facilities, the percentage of the population with health insurance coverage, and the presence of healthcare professionals. 

How can we improve the health of the population? 

So, what is the goal of all this tracking and measuring? Population Health and Prevention professionals can look for trends in the data to see where their efforts would be best spent. When implementing a new policy, they can use the data to judge how effective it is. These are vital as we work to create a healthier population. Oftentimes, this is referred to as population health management. 

These efforts often include implementing policies and laws that push corporations to sell healthier food, limit their carbon footprint, and inform the public of product recalls. There is also a communication factor as public health professionals keep the public informed about the importance of healthy lifestyle choices and available wellness resources, such as smoking cessation programs or food banks.  

What are the advantages of a healthy population? 

Effective population health management offers a multitude of other benefits, some obvious, others not so much. Individuals are happier and are able to save money on healthcare costs. Contagious illnesses and diseases spread slower. As a result, physicians and nurses are more available to focus on more severe illnesses and injuries.  

It also benefits our economy. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that productivity losses linked to absent employees cost businesses $225.8 billion annually in the United States. Government programs that oversee the welfare of groups can spend funds on other needs. 

Study Health Science at University of the People  

UoPeople offers a Bachelor of Science in Health Science for people aspiring to build successful careers in the field. Our bachelor’s degree is perfect for those looking to start building a solid base in the healthcare field. Keep in mind additional higher education or certificates may be needed to pursue your personal and professional goals. 

Additionally, the university offers four well-designed certificate programs in health science, helping learners specialize in Public Health, Human Biology, Epidemiology, and Behavioral Health.  

UoPeople makes your learning process super easy by sticking with an asynchronous learning model, which means, there are no live lectures, and no set class times.  Instead, you can enjoy the freedom of online flexibility and study on your own schedule.  All you are required to do is to turn in your assignments by the end of each week to race your path to graduation! Apply now!