Population Health Glossary

A network of doctors, hospitals, and other providers that share responsibility for providing coordinated, high-quality care to a defined patient population.

Traumatic events occurring in childhood (abuse, neglect, household dysfunction) that are linked to increased risk of chronic disease and premature death in adulthood.

The deliberate organization of patient care activities across multiple providers and settings to ensure appropriate delivery of services and information sharing.

A systematic process of collecting and analyzing data to identify the most significant health needs and assets of a community.

The study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states and events in specified populations and the application of this study to control health problems.

Preventable differences in health outcomes and their determinants between segments of a population, often linked to social, economic, or environmental disadvantage.

The attainment of the highest level of health for all people, requiring the removal of obstacles such as poverty, discrimination, and structural racism.

A prospective evaluation of the potential health effects of a proposed policy, plan, or project, used to inform decision-makers.

An approach that systematically considers the health implications of decisions across all sectors and policy areas to improve population health.

The degree to which individuals can obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions.

The current iteration of the U.S. federal initiative that sets evidence-based, measurable national objectives for improving health and well-being over a decade.

The number or rate of new cases of a disease or condition occurring in a population during a specified time period.

The average number of years a person born in a given population can expect to live, based on current mortality rates. A key summary measure of population health.

The state of having a disease or medical condition; also used to describe the rate or frequency of disease in a population.

The frequency of death in a defined population during a specified time period, often expressed per 1,000 or 100,000 individuals.

The health outcomes of a defined group of individuals, including the distribution of outcomes within the group and the factors that influence that distribution.

The application of big data, genomics, geospatial analysis, and advanced analytics to deliver targeted public health interventions to specific populations.

The proportion of a population found to have a condition at a specific point in time (point prevalence) or during a specific period (period prevalence).

Healthcare services aimed at preventing disease or detecting it early, including immunizations, screenings, and counseling for behavioral risk factors.

The process of assigning a health risk level to members of a population based on clinical, demographic, and behavioral data to guide resource allocation.

The conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that shape health, including economic stability, education, healthcare access, neighborhood environment, and social context.

The pattern in which health improves incrementally at each step up the socioeconomic ladder, affecting all levels of society, not just the poorest.

A framework developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement pursuing three goals: better patient experience, improved population health, and lower per capita cost.

Actions that address the fundamental social, economic, and environmental causes of poor health at the population level rather than treating individuals.

A healthcare payment and delivery model that links reimbursement to quality metrics and patient outcomes rather than the volume of services provided.