“There is no one-size-fits-all approach for improving population health,” said Marcia Wilson, PhD, MBA, senior vice president of quality measurement for NQF. “The Action Guide is purposefully open-ended and flexible so that individuals and organizations can adapt the suggested approaches to fit the needs and goals of their communities.” 

Key recommendations for successful population health programs include appointing dedicated leadership, setting clear priorities, using measures to track progress and identify opportunities for improvement, and planning for scalability and sustainability. Aligned with the National Quality Strategy and supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Action Guide focuses on increasing collaboration among various stakeholders who together play an important role in improving the health of their communities. The guide was spearheaded by NQF, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, other federal partners, and an expert committee.

Ten groups from communities across the country field tested the Action Guide over the course of 18 months. These field testing groups used the Action Guide as a framework to develop new projects or improve existing population health projects and were instrumental in determining what worked, and providing suggestions and additions based on real-world experiences. The Action Guide profiles their experiences.

Contact information
For more information, you may contact the Population Health team.