Population Health Inputs and Their Effects

Population Health
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Population Health System
Measure of the population health the distribution and the causes is one of the most subtle elements health care development in terms of evidence and policy formulation. This also provides the backdrop against which the health care systems and the intervention programs are evaluated and redefined. One of the underlying aspects on this aspect, is that health is one of the most complex elements of the population characteristics and takes a multidimensional form and thus requires a number of metrics to establish the measure (Remmert, 2011). However, one of the simplest ways to establish the health of a population is through the aggregation of data from individuals and generate the statics that can be used in reference to a certain population at a certain point in time or period. Population health like most other complex systems has inputs and outputs, all of which affect the system in a varying number of ways, at complex levels of integration. The population health system is thus affected by a number of inputs which include aspects such as financing, policies, commodities, facilities, time and human resources (McDowell, Spasoff, & Kristjansson, 2004). At the end of the system there is the outputs which are elements that leave the system which in this case include the outcomes and byproducts of the system (Vassie & Fuller, 2003). In this case, what is delivered in terms of health care to the patients in the population defines a larger concept the outputs of the system. It is also crucial to consider outcomes relative to the health care providers as they also receive services from the health care system.
Population Health Inputs and Their Effects
Raw materials
Finances
Finances are one of the supporting pillars in public health as they form an important part of the inputs that drive the system towards the goals set out in the policies. Different countries, health care systems and health care facilities have varied ways of financing their health care programs under their specific objectives and scope. The most important aspect however, is related to the fact that, without the financial inputs the health systems regardless of their size are bound to fail, as all the resources are tied in with the financial aspect of the systems. Institutions in the health care sector along with the government agencies are tasked with the need develop ways of financing health care services. This means that they have to raise resources enough to provide the population with the best health care under the different packages to the individual patients and thus by extension to the entire populations (Vassie & Fuller, 2003). They also have to manage their revenue pools to make sure each of the health care objectives are met relative to the evolving health needs at the population level. As such finances have to be distributed relative to the most pressing health needs in the population. This way the health challenges are resolved sustainably and with the right amount of efforts (Remmert, 2011). The way that the health system is financed also determines the way that the population accesses the health services, how much they pay for these services, avail...