The Workforce Needed to Address Population Health

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Workforce Development
• Social Determinants of Health

Background:

• A unified definition for the population health workforce is currently lacking.
• The complexity of health drivers necessitates a multi-faceted approach to workforce development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline essential skills and competencies for the population health workforce.
• To identify strategies for enhancing the capabilities of the existing health workforce.
• To emphasize the need for integrated funding and leadership in workforce development.

Main Methods:

• Policy analysis
• Literature review on workforce competencies
• Stakeholder consultation (implied)

Main Results:

• The population health workforce must possess skills in addressing social determinants of health and understanding intersectionality.
• Current health workers require on-the-job training and employer support to meet population health needs.
• Collaboration across diverse sectors, including urban planning and transportation, is vital.

Conclusions:

• Investment in training and leadership is critical for building a comprehensive population health workforce.
• Expanding the scope beyond traditional health and social care is essential for addressing population health drivers.
• A coordinated approach involving various professional sectors is key to improving population health outcomes.