Population Health: The Health and Wellness of People and Communities

Healthcare and cities in the United States are simultaneously evolving with a focus on the individual and a renewed understanding of health and wellness. The healthcare industry has an opportunity unlike ever before to be involved directly with the consumer on a near daily basis. By developing a full spectrum of population care points within communities, healthcare providers can effectively address wellness and disease management. While more people will find care outside of the acute care hospital, the hospital will remain a staple of American healthcare. It will need to be integrated into a mixed use wellness district that features not only hospital centric spaces, but also elements that add to the community as a whole serving as a catalyst for urban renewal and healthy living.

This article originally appeared in The Academy Journal, published by the AIA Academy of Architecture for Healthcare (16th edition).