Managing Population Health: An Ontological Framework

Abstract

The science of eliminating health disparities is a component of the problem of managing population health. It is embedded in a complex system of [science/practice/policy] of/for [eliminating/decreasing/ understanding & addressing/increasing/universalizing] population [health/disease] [disparities/parities]. The system includes practices which introduce health parities (for example, vaccinating all children), policies which increase disease disparities (for example, limited reimbursement for preventive care), and 58 other components encapsulated in the ontological framework.

The framework includes all the three components of translation, has symmetric objectives ranging from eliminating to universalizing, and includes the complements of both health and disparities. In this milieu, an exclusive focus on the science of eliminating health disparities would be ineffective – the approach has to be inclusive and systemic. A qualitative meta-analysis of the last 10 years’ literature reveals the biases, and the ‘bright’, ‘light’, and ‘blind’ spots in the current knowledge to manage population health. The analysis will help develop a systemic approach to the problem and thereby to systematically eliminate health disparities.

Keywords: health disparities, ontological framework, population health