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Lechauncy Woodard,
Sara G. McNeil,
and
Susie Gronseth
COURSE 2 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to the concept of population health and related key terms. Refine your understanding of population health and what influences health care costs. Gain an overview of population health management, beginning with a high-level review of four critical areas: addressing behavioral and social determinants of health, the prevalence of chronic disease, attributes of an aging population, and key barriers of access to health care. Use the Population Health Pyramid to organize a care delivery system to meet the needs of population groups—all with an eye towards achieving better outcomes through the fundamental premise of value-based care. In the summative assignment, bring together the elements of a community health assessment and community health improvement plan into a logical and organized whole by selecting a particular community that is important to you, applying data, and determining relevant assets.
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What's inside
Syllabus
Introduction to Population Health
This module is an introduction to the concept of population health and related key terms. You will reconnect with concepts you may have explored in Course 1 to refine your understanding of the factors that influence the cost of healthcare through the complex lens of population health. While the information you will explore is general, specifically focusing on population health will help your continued learning and future thinking about value-based care as you progress through this certificate program. Even if you have an understanding of or experience with population health, this module could serve as a useful review. Remember, as you read or hear terms or concepts that are new to you, have your notepad handy to write them down. At any time, you can use your favorite search engine to learn more. Be a self-directed learner!
Read more
Syllabus
Introduction to Population Health
This module is an introduction to the concept of population health and related key terms. You will reconnect with concepts you may have explored in Course 1 to refine your understanding of the factors that influence the cost of healthcare through the complex lens of population health. While the information you will explore is general, specifically focusing on population health will help your continued learning and future thinking about value-based care as you progress through this certificate program. Even if you have an understanding of or experience with population health, this module could serve as a useful review. Remember, as you read or hear terms or concepts that are new to you, have your notepad handy to write them down. At any time, you can use your favorite search engine to learn more. Be a self-directed learner!
Read more
Traffic lights
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause and
possible dealbreakers
Explores population health, a concept highly relevant in healthcare today
Introduces population health management, a critical component in managing healthcare costs
Led by instructors Sara G. McNeil, Lechauncy Woodard, and Susie Gronseth
Introduces the Population Health Pyramid, a useful tool in organizing care delivery systems
Requires prior knowledge in population health concepts
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Reviews summary
Essential overview of population health and value-based care
This course, titled 'Value-Based Care: Population Health,' is designed to provide a clear and concise introduction to vital concepts in modern healthcare. It systematically introduces population health management, covering social determinants of health, chronic disease prevalence, and healthcare access. Learners can expect to gain a foundational understanding of the Population Health Pyramid and its role in organizing care delivery. A key strength is the practical summative assignment, where students apply concepts to create a community health assessment and improvement plan. The course encourages self-directed learning for deeper exploration.
Promotes independent research, which requires learner initiative.
"I found the encouragement to 'be a self-directed learner' helpful for exploring topics I was most interested in."
"While the course provides a strong framework, it expects you to do some external research for deeper dives."
"It's good that they suggest using search engines, but some topics could benefit from more in-course detail."
The course culminates in a valuable, real-world relevant assignment.
"The summative assignment on community health assessment is highly practical and brings all the learning together."
"I appreciated the opportunity to apply what I learned to a community health improvement plan, making it tangible."
"Developing a CHA/CHIP outline was very insightful and directly applicable to my professional interests."
Provides a solid introduction to key population health concepts.
"I found this course incredibly helpful for understanding the basic concepts of population health and value-based care."
"It's a great starting point for anyone new to the field, offering a broad but clear overview of key terms and models."
"The modules effectively introduced population health management and its critical areas."
May not delve into advanced topics or complex analyses.
"As an introduction, the course is great, but those seeking very deep analysis might find it a bit high-level."
"I would have liked a bit more detail on some specific policy implications, but it served its purpose as an overview."
"The course covers a broad range of topics, which means some areas are only touched upon lightly."
Activities
Be better prepared
before
your course. Deepen your understanding
during
and
after
it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered
in Value-Based Care: Population Health with these
activities:
Review statistics basics
Show steps
Reviewing statistics basics will help you to better understand and analyze population health data.
Browse courses on
Statistical Concepts
Show steps
-
Revisit key statistical concepts, such as mean, median, mode, and standard deviation.
-
Practice calculating these statistics using real-world data.
-
Identify different types of statistical tests and when to use them.
Volunteer at a community health organization
Show steps
Volunteering at a community health organization will give you the opportunity to apply your population health knowledge in a real-world setting and make a positive impact on your community.
Show steps
-
Identify a community health organization that you are interested in volunteering for.
-
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
-
Attend a volunteer orientation and training.
-
Fulfill your volunteer duties as assigned.
Mentor a student in a population health course
Show steps
Mentoring a student in a population health course will give you the opportunity to solidify your understanding of the material while also helping others to learn.
Show steps
-
Identify a student who is struggling with population health concepts.
-
Meet with the student regularly to provide support and guidance.
-
Help the student to develop study skills and strategies.
One other activity
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all four activities
Develop a community health assessment
Show steps
Developing a community health assessment will allow you to apply the concepts of population health to a real-world setting and gain hands-on experience.
Show steps
-
Identify a specific community or population group to focus on.
-
Gather data on the community's health status, risk factors, and resources.
-
Analyze the data to identify health disparities and unmet needs.
-
Develop recommendations for interventions to improve the community's health.
Review statistics basics
Show steps
Reviewing statistics basics will help you to better understand and analyze population health data.
Browse courses on
Statistical Concepts
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Revisit key statistical concepts, such as mean, median, mode, and standard deviation.
- Practice calculating these statistics using real-world data.
- Identify different types of statistical tests and when to use them.
Volunteer at a community health organization
Show steps
Volunteering at a community health organization will give you the opportunity to apply your population health knowledge in a real-world setting and make a positive impact on your community.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a community health organization that you are interested in volunteering for.
- Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
- Attend a volunteer orientation and training.
- Fulfill your volunteer duties as assigned.
Mentor a student in a population health course
Show steps
Mentoring a student in a population health course will give you the opportunity to solidify your understanding of the material while also helping others to learn.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a student who is struggling with population health concepts.
- Meet with the student regularly to provide support and guidance.
- Help the student to develop study skills and strategies.
One other activity
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all four activities
Develop a community health assessment
Show steps
Developing a community health assessment will allow you to apply the concepts of population health to a real-world setting and gain hands-on experience.
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Identify a specific community or population group to focus on.
- Gather data on the community's health status, risk factors, and resources.
- Analyze the data to identify health disparities and unmet needs.
- Develop recommendations for interventions to improve the community's health.
Career center
Learners who complete Value-Based Care: Population Health will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
Epidemiologist
Epidemiologist
Epidemiologists are responsible for investigating the causes and patterns of disease in populations. This course may be useful for Epidemiologists because it provides an understanding of the principles of population health and the tools and techniques used to improve population health outcomes.
Population Health Manager
Population Health Manager
Population Health Managers are responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating programs to improve the health of a population. This course may be useful for Population Health Managers because it provides an understanding of the principles of population health management and the tools and techniques used to improve population health outcomes.
Public Health Nurse
Public Health Nurse
Public Health Nurses are responsible for providing health care and education to individuals and communities. This course may be useful for Public Health Nurses because it provides an understanding of the factors that influence health behavior and the principles of population health. This knowledge can help Public Health Nurses develop effective programs to improve the health of their communities.
Quality Improvement Specialist
Quality Improvement Specialist
Quality Improvement Specialists are responsible for improving the quality of healthcare services. This course may be useful for Quality Improvement Specialists because it provides an understanding of the principles of population health and the tools and techniques used to improve population health outcomes. This knowledge can help Quality Improvement Specialists develop and implement more effective quality improvement programs.
Community Health Educator
Community Health Educator
Community Health Educators are responsible for educating individuals and communities about health issues and promoting healthy behaviors. This course may be useful for Community Health Educators because it provides an understanding of the factors that influence health behavior and the principles of community health education. This knowledge can help Community Health Educators develop effective programs to improve the health of their communities.
Health Promotion Specialist
Health Promotion Specialist
Health Promotion Specialists are responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating programs to improve the health of individuals and communities. This course may be useful for Health Promotion Specialists because it provides an understanding of the factors that influence health behavior and the principles of community health education. This knowledge can help Health Promotion Specialists develop effective programs to improve the health of their communities.
Biostatistician
Biostatistician
Biostatisticians are responsible for designing and analyzing studies to test the effectiveness of healthcare interventions. This course may be useful for Biostatisticians because it provides an understanding of the principles of population health and the tools and techniques used to improve population health outcomes. This knowledge can help Biostatisticians design more rigorous studies and produce more reliable results.
Health Services Researcher
Health Services Researcher
Health Services Researchers are responsible for conducting research to improve the delivery and quality of healthcare. This course may be useful for Health Services Researchers because it provides an understanding of the principles of population health and the tools and techniques used to improve population health outcomes. This knowledge can help Health Services Researchers develop more effective research methods and produce more meaningful results.
Clinical Research Coordinator
Clinical Research Coordinator
Clinical Research Coordinators are responsible for managing clinical research studies. This course may be useful for Clinical Research Coordinators because it provides an understanding of the principles of population health and the tools and techniques used to improve population health outcomes. This knowledge can help Clinical Research Coordinators design and implement more effective studies.
Actuary
Actuary
Actuaries are responsible for assessing the financial risks of insurance companies and other financial institutions. This course may be useful for Actuaries because it provides an understanding of the principles of value-based care and the tools and techniques used to improve the quality and affordability of healthcare. This knowledge can help Actuaries develop more accurate risk models and make better decisions about how to price insurance products.
Medical Writer
Medical Writer
Medical Writers are responsible for creating written materials about medical topics. This course may be useful for Medical Writers because it provides an understanding of the principles of population health and the tools and techniques used to improve population health outcomes. This knowledge can help Medical Writers create more accurate and informative materials about health.
Social Worker
Social Worker
Social Workers provide support and assistance to individuals and families who are facing challenges. This course may be useful for Social Workers because it provides an understanding of the social determinants of health and the impact of social factors on health outcomes. This knowledge can help Social Workers develop effective interventions to improve the health and well-being of their clients.
Health Care Administrator
Health Care Administrator
Health Care Administrators are responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of healthcare organizations. This course may be useful for Health Care Administrators because it provides an understanding of the principles of value-based care and the tools and techniques used to improve the quality and affordability of healthcare. This knowledge can help Health Care Administrators make informed decisions about how to improve the care provided by their organizations.
Health Economist
Health Economist
Health Economists are responsible for analyzing the costs and benefits of healthcare interventions. This course may be useful for Health Economists because it provides an understanding of the principles of value-based care and the tools and techniques used to improve the quality and affordability of healthcare. This knowledge can help Health Economists make informed decisions about how to allocate healthcare resources.
Health Policy Analyst
Health Policy Analyst
Health Policy Analysts are responsible for researching, analyzing, and developing policies to improve the healthcare system. This course may be useful for Health Policy Analysts because it provides an understanding of the factors that influence health care costs and the principles of value-based care. This knowledge can help Health Policy Analysts develop policies that are effective in improving the quality and affordability of healthcare.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/29zbaf/value
Reading list
We've selected eight books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Value-Based Care: Population Health.
This comprehensive resource provides a step-by-step guide to conducting community health assessments and developing improvement plans. It aligns well with the summative assignment and offers practical guidance for healthcare professionals engaged in population health initiatives.
This evidence-based guide offers insights into the social determinants of health and provides practical recommendations for addressing these factors through policy and practice. It complements the course's emphasis on addressing behavioral and social determinants of health.
This foundational text provides a comprehensive overview of health behavior theories, research methods, and intervention strategies. It serves as a valuable resource for understanding the behavioral factors that influence population health and developing effective interventions.
This landmark report provides recommendations for transforming the nursing profession to meet the challenges of the 21st-century healthcare system. It emphasizes the importance of population health and the role of nurses in improving population health outcomes.
This comprehensive report provides an overview of the state of public health and epidemiology in the United States. It highlights the importance of prevention and population health in improving the health of the nation.
This introductory textbook provides a global perspective on health and healthcare. It explores the challenges and opportunities in improving population health outcomes in diverse settings and offers insights into the role of international collaboration in addressing global health issues.
This practical textbook provides a foundation in epidemiology and its applications in public health. It offers valuable insights into the methods and tools used to investigate and control population health problems.
Save
This comprehensive textbook provides a rigorous introduction to biostatistics and its applications in health sciences research. It serves as a useful reference for learners seeking to develop a strong foundation in statistical methods and their use in population health studies.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/29zbaf/value
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Effort
2-3 hours/week
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Houston
Instructors
Lechauncy Woodard
Sara G. McNeil
Susie Gronseth
Language
English
Transcripts
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This course belongs to a
collection
called
Value-Based Care. It's comprised of seven courses:
- Value-Based Care: Quality Improvement in Organizations
- Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes
- Value-Based Care: Reimbursement Models
- Value-Based Care: Capstone Project
- Value-Based Care: Introduction to Value-Based Care and the U.S. Healthcare System
- Value-Based Care: Population Health (viewing)
- Value-Based Care: Organizational Competencies
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