7
Lindsay Allen, MA October 9, 2013
� � Lindsay Allen, MA October 9, 2013
Public Health: all organized measures to prevent disease, promote health, & prolong life among the population as a whole (WHO)
Health: a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity (WHO, 1948)
Who is responsible?
Doctors
Allied Health
Nurses
Public Health
Individuals & Patients
Industry
Source: http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html; http://www.who.int/trade/glossary/story076/en/
� Multidisciplinary Open Call Night
Public Health
Medicine/Allied Health
Nursing
Engineering
� Not yet working together optimally
� Institutionalism; “silo” practice
� Lack of knowledge/awareness � Incentives are not aligned
� Can include: o Screening activities to identify health risks (e.g., BMI) o Primary and secondary prevention interventions o Health promotion activities to further healthy lifestyles
� Incentives: o Financial (cash, insurance premium reductions), gym
discounts, novelty items o Tied to either participation or changes in health-related
standards
Source: RAND Corporation, 2013; http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR200/RR254/RAND_RR254.pdf
� Aligns the interests of public health and business
� Do they work? � Where do we go from
here?
Source: RAND Corporation, 2013; http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR200/RR254/RAND_RR254.pdf
Can reduce risk factors and increase healthy behaviors • Long-term benefits?
Impact on costs lower than expected • Costs not significantly
lower • Five years to break even • Participation is low
