To kick off, we're laying some critical groundwork. Population health: it’s a term you’ve likely heard, but do we really understand what it means? In this episode, we dive into the misunderstood and often misused concept. Drawing on insights from seminal works and critiques, we unpack the original definition of population health and explore how it has evolved over time. We also tackle how “population health management” in healthcare risks diluting the original intent by focusing on administrative matters, and why a broader approach matters for health professionals, policymakers, and anyone committed to more equitable healthcare systems.

What we learn about population health over the next few episodes will set the stage for all future conversations on health EQ.

Sources:

Diez Roux, A. V. (2016). On the Distinction—Or Lack of Distinction—Between Population Health and Public Health. American Journal of Public Health, 106(4), 619–620. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2016.303097
Kindig, D., & Stoddart, G. (2003). What is population health? American Journal of Public Health, 93(3), 380–383. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.93.3.380
Krieger, N. (2012). Who and What Is a “Population”? Historical Debates, Current Controversies, and Implications for Understanding “Population Health” and Rectifying Health Inequities. The Milbank Quarterly, 90(4), 634–681. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0009.2012.00678.x
Steenkamer, B. M., Drewes, H. W., Heijink, R., Baan, C. A., & Struijs, J. N. (2017). Defining Population Health Management: A Scoping Review of the Literature. Population Health Management, 20(1), 74–85. https://doi.org/10.1089/pop.2015.0149
World Health Organization (WHO). Promoting Health in All Policies and intersectoral action capacities. (n.d.). https://www.who.int/activities/promoting-health-in-all-policies-and-intersectoral-action-capacities

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Is Population Health Management Missing the Point?