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Cultivating and maintaining a healthy society is a complex, constantly evolving process. Specialists in both population health and public health seek to optimize the health and well-being of communities and their residents. However, they have different approaches and focus on different aspects of maintaining a community of healthy people.

Individuals researching population health vs. public health for a career should know professionals in both specialty areas make a meaningful impact on people’s health and wellness, and can therefore benefit from earning a Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education degree.

Population Health vs. Public Health: Definitions

When assessing population health vs. public health for a career, it can be helpful to look at each specialty area individually.

What Is Population Health?

Professionals who work in population health primarily observe the health of a specific part of the population. They don’t concern themselves with people’s illnesses or symptoms, rather they try to understand the context driving their health conditions, such as environmental and socioeconomic factors. 

Using data and various analytical tools, population health specialists seek to discern the “why” in a population’s health and health issues, which can tie into greater societal issues like health inequalities.

Population health professionals commonly focus on four pillars within a specific population:

• Chronic care management

• Quality and safety

• Health policy

• Public health

Collectively, these pillars are believed to be the most important factors in providing all people within a population with an equal chance of maintaining optimal health and well-being. They allow population health specialists to take a broad view of any correlations that exist between specific issues and specific health concerns within the population. 

For instance, the Ministry of Health in Singapore utilizes data analytics to track different types of health care facility activities, such as emergency room visits or hospital admissions. This allows them to better track health inequalities, which they can then target with strategies that aim to close these gaps. 

What Is Public Health?

Professionals who work in public health focus on identifying specific health issues impacting a community and developing strategies that can reduce their presence in the future. Through policies, procedures, advocacy, and community health programs, they aim to protect the community from potential health challenges that could affect them. In some cases, their programs address multiple issues when they are found to be correlated, such as a program that addresses obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.

An example of public health in action is the Change4Life public health campaign deployed by the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS). This campaign utilizes a combination of educational resources, community-driven events, and media outreach to encourage residents to incorporate healthy lifestyle choices like physical activity and healthy eating into their daily lives.

Population Health vs. Public Health: Similarities

The primary similarity between population health and public health workers is their end goal. Professionals in both specialty areas concentrate on optimizing the health of a community and its residents.

They also have a similar focus on the health of the population at large instead of on the health of individuals. Neither type of specialist directly impacts people’s health the way that a nurse or physician might. Instead, their actions are intended to change the larger context and the circumstances connected to how people live and care for their health and wellness.

The similarities between the two types of specialists can sometimes make them seem interchangeable. However, while there is some overlap between them, they each play a separate role as they strive to achieve the same goal. Individuals interested in a career in either sector could be well-prepared by earning a public health degree.

Population Health vs. Public Health: Differences

The primary difference between population health and public health roles is their scope. Population health professionals focus on specific population groups to determine their health and health care needs and the factors that may impact their health outcomes. After determining these areas of need, population health specialists aim to address or mitigate them.

Public health professionals take a more proactive approach. They focus on preventing health detriments and promoting healthy living and lifestyle choices. Their goal is to prevent negative health outcomes before they happen.

Another key difference between population health and public health specialists is how they each achieve improved outcomes. Population health workers aim to repair specific health and health care issues related to socioeconomic factors at the population-wide level. Public health workers, on the other hand, address the prevention of specific health-related issues, like smoking or obesity, through outreach, programs, initiatives, and education.

Make a Difference in Society

Regardless of whether an individual chooses to pursue a career in population health or public health, they can make a significant impact on people’s lives and health. 

North Carolina Central University Online’s Bachelor of Science in Public Health Education program can help you cultivate the tools you need to meet this moment by helping people improve their health and well-being. Our program will immerse you in a service-oriented curriculum and enable you to build the expertise necessary to not only recognize community health issues but also build plans to repair them or mitigate their impact.

Learn how NCCU Online can help you move toward a unique career helping others.

Recommended Readings

What Is CHES Certification?

What Is Community Health?

What Is a Wellness Coordinator?

Sources:

AAPC, “Putting Population Health into Practice”

American Public Health Association, What Is Public Health?

TechTarget, “How Do Population Health, Public Health, Community Health Differ?”

Tiga Healthcare Technologies, “Difference Between Population Health and Public Health”

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2030 Framework