Advancing a Culture of Health: Population Health Programs in Place at Essential Hospitals and Academic Medical Centers (2012-2014)

This study is a systematic review of a national sample of hospital-led population health programs in place at essential hospitals and academic medical centers in the US from 2012 to 2014. We conducted a content analysis of abstracts describing 121 population health initiatives to understand how hospital leaders are translating population health objectives into action. Intended patient population, services provided, and outcomes measured are described. The programs' relationship to an adapted conceptual model of population health as part of a culture of health was assessed. Nearly all programs in the study were hybrids, in that they possessed features belonging to each of the model's two program types (healthcare system and health community system). The majority were focused on patients already attributed to a particular hospital system, but many involved partnerships with community-based or social service resources. This finding reflects the missions of essential hospitals and academic medical centers to improve the lives and care of patients, while recognizing the fundamental need to improve the health of the broader population.