The University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute is embarking on a project to rank and assess community health in the United States, with $4.9 million in new funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Under the leadership of Patrick Remington, MD, and David Kindig, MD, the Population Health Institute will rank the health of every county in all 50 states.
"The overarching goal of this project is to close the gap between 'what we know' and 'what we do' to improve health and reduce disparities," said Remington, director of the Population Health Institute.
He said this work builds on the institute's six years of experience publishing the annual Wisconsin County Health Rankings. These rankings draw attention around the state to the fact that a community's health is determined by more than just its healthcare system.
The methodology behind the rankings weighs people's health behaviors and the socioeconomic and physical environment, in addition to healthcare, as contributors to a community's health. Remington said the institute would be taking this message across the country in the new project, called Mobilize Action Toward Community Health (MATCH).
The institute will also explore and develop case studies around community partnerships that can help improve health and identify best practices for the use of financial and non-financial incentives for population health improvement.
"Simply providing better healthcare is not the solution," said Kindig. "New systems of accountability at the community level are needed, supported by partnerships including healthcare organizations, public health agencies, school boards, social service agencies, nonprofit advocacy groups and businesses."
The Population Health Institute is part of the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Kindig, professor emeritus of population health sciences and former vice chancellor for health affairs, founded the institute.
Remington, professor of population health sciences, directs the institute. Its mission is to translate public health and health policy research into policy and practice.
James S. Marks, MD, senior vice president and director of the health group at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said political leaders must know the health challenges their communities face if they are going to help people live longer and healthier lives.
"We believe these county reports will help show leaders where additional efforts to improve their communities' health can be most effective," he said.