A methodology is proposed that would allow healthcare delivery – a finite and costly resource – in a manner that strikes a balance between (total) population health and (subgroup) health equity.
Population health has been defined as “the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group.” Measuring population health and its distribution can unite groups across sectors around a set of clear, defined goals. However, no one metric can capture the intricate and complex nature of population health. Instead, we need a matrix of indicators to gain a full picture of health and how it is changing. (see Figure 1). For example, rather than measuring only end-of-the-line health outcomes such as mortality, we need to measure a range of metrics across the health pathway, including the determinants of health, risk factors, prevention and treatment.
In addition, to understand the distribution of health in a population and address inequalities, we need to measure health across different subpopulations.
Yet there is little evidence on which sub-population groups should be considered. Commonly used segmentations are…
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Bracken S. Kolle, M.D. ⚕ 