Population Health: Curriculum Framework for an Emerging Discipline

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The term "population health" encompasses initiatives shifting from service volume to health outcomes.
• A lack of standardized definition and competency inventory hinders population health efforts.
• Addressing community health outcomes requires a clear understanding of population health principles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive curriculum framework for population health.
• To define the core competencies and knowledge required for population health practitioners.
• To establish a conceptual map for the field of population health.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a literature search of peer-reviewed and gray literature.
• Performed a curriculum scan of current graduate health programs.
• Convened an expert panel of industry stakeholders.

Main Results:

• Developed a concept map defining population health.
• The framework consists of 6 domains: 3 knowledge-based and 3 skills-based.
• Identified subcategories within the defined domains.

Conclusions:

• The established framework has implications for teaching population health.
• Further scholarship is needed to define the field for health system leaders and academics.
• A clear definition and competency framework are essential for hiring skilled health professionals.