Preparing for the Future of Population Health 4.0

Public Health 1.0 identifies the initiation and growth in both knowledge and tools for medicine and public health. Public Health 2.0 characterizes the development of our traditional public health systems within both local and the federal government. Public Health 3.0 encapsulates the involvement of multiple sectors including other governmental agencies, community-based organizations, and the private sector. It also defines the focus of the social determinants of health.

I would say that Public Health 4.0, or rather Population Health 4.0, is the recognition of health as a global entity and the focus on identifying and eliminating health disparities. The focus is on population health management. While PH 3.0 required the development of HIT infrastructure and understanding, 4.0 requires an even greater partnership with technology allowing for enhanced care management outside of brick & mortar structures delivering health care to the most vulnerable where they are.