Community Health, Population Health and Public Health: Understanding the Differences

Summary

The video explores the distinctions between Community Health, Population Health, and Public Health. Community Health focuses on grassroots efforts to address local health challenges, including social determinants like poverty and crime. Population Health looks at the outcomes of care, particularly after the Affordable Care Act, and involves monitoring health across different groups like seniors or children. Public Health, mainly a government responsibility, involves actions like ensuring clean water and air quality. Health systems contribute significantly to both Community and Population Health, while Public Health is more closely tied to government efforts.

Takeaways

• 😀 Community health is a grassroots effort aimed at working directly with people in the community to address challenges and improve their health across various dimensions, such as healthy water and eating.
• 😀 Social determinants like poverty and high crime zones significantly impact a community's health and need to be addressed for better outcomes.
• 😀 Population health focuses on the outcomes of care for specific groups or populations, often segmented by factors like age or specific health conditions (e.g., Medicare recipients, children, cancer patients).
• 😀 Public health is mainly the responsibility of government entities at local, regional, state, or federal levels, but it intersects with the needs of other health stakeholders.
• 😀 Community health is about local involvement and addressing the health needs of specific communities, with hospitals and health systems playing an active role.
• 😀 In population health, health systems are increasingly responsible for achieving positive health outcomes for large populations, especially through models like Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).
• 😀 The Affordable Care Act has pushed a shift towards understanding and improving population health, particularly through the use of ACOs to address the needs of specific populations.
• 😀 Hospitals and health systems play a critical role in advancing community health by understanding local needs and influencing broader health behaviors, even if they don't directly provide health care.
• 😀 Public health is primarily a government responsibility, but health systems contribute to it by ensuring clean water and good air quality, advocating for community health needs.
• 😀 Health systems serve as a key interface between government and the community, helping to advance public health measures and contribute to health policy discussions.

Q & A

What is the difference between community health, population health, and public health?

Community health is a grassroots effort focused on improving health at the local level by addressing social determinants such as poverty and crime. Population health focuses on outcomes of care for broader groups, often defined by specific conditions or demographics. Public health, on the other hand, is largely a government responsibility, focusing on broad health measures like clean water and air quality.

How is community health typically approached?

Community health is often addressed through grassroots initiatives where local communities collaborate to tackle health challenges, such as providing access to healthy water and food, and reducing issues linked to social determinants like poverty and high crime rates.

What role does the health system play in community health?

Health systems, especially hospitals, are involved in community health by understanding local needs and working to improve health outcomes. While it may not always involve direct healthcare, it influences how people in the community think about and approach health more broadly.

What is population health and how is it measured?

Population health focuses on the health outcomes of a specific group or population, often influenced by medical care, socioeconomic factors, and environmental factors. It's typically measured through data on healthcare outcomes, such as those tracked by Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), especially after the Affordable Care Act.

How did the Affordable Care Act influence the approach to population health?

The Affordable Care Act prompted health systems to focus more on achieving positive health outcomes for large populations, through initiatives like Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) that aim to improve care quality and reduce costs for specific patient populations, such as Medicare recipients.

What are Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)?

ACOs are groups of healthcare providers who work together to provide coordinated care to improve the health outcomes of a population. These organizations are especially common for managing the care of specific groups, such as seniors or people with chronic conditions.

How is public health different from community and population health?

Public health is primarily a government responsibility, focusing on public safety measures like sanitation, clean water, and air quality. It intersects with community and population health but is distinct in its focus on policies and regulations for public health at the local, regional, and national levels.

What role do hospitals and health systems play in public health?

Hospitals and health systems contribute to public health by advocating for and supporting measures like clean water, safe air, and disease prevention. They also serve as a bridge between local communities and government entities to advance public health initiatives.

What are some examples of social determinants that affect community health?

Social determinants of health include factors like income, education, access to healthy food, housing stability, and living in areas with high crime rates or environmental hazards. These factors can significantly impact the overall health of a community.

How can health systems influence the way people think about health at a community level?

Health systems can influence community health by engaging with the local population to provide education, resources, and support for healthier lifestyles. This can involve promoting healthy behaviors, improving access to healthcare services, and addressing social challenges that affect health.