Tag: populationhealth

New Jersey-based Shore Quality Partners (SQP) is designed to help its participants improve patient care through quality and cost improvements. Robert Shea Wisler, the accountable care organization’sdirector of population health and analytics, says that a partnership with a company called Spatially Health is helping it better address social drivers of poor health outcomes. Shore Quality… Continue reading In the News: N.J.-Based ACO Partners to Improve Social Determinants Focus

Hillit Meidar-Alfi, the founder and CEO of Spatially Health, told us at the recent 2023 Florida State of Reform Health Policy Conference about how her organization is working to foster a better understanding of the role that social determinants of health play in healthcare delivery for many Floridians. Meidar-Alfi noted that around 74% of the… Continue reading In the News: What They’re Watching: Hillit Meidar-Alfi, Spatially Health

Certain states in the United States have been identified as having a higher prevalence of food swamps. It’s important to note that the specific rankings and prevalence can change over time. Factors such as population density, income disparities, and urbanization contribute to the presence of food swamps. Here are a few states that have been… Continue reading States Where Food Swamps Are Most Prevalent

In West Virginia, numerous social determinants of health barriers pose significant challenges to the well-being of communities. Factors such as poverty, limited access to healthcare providers, educational disparities, substance abuse, food swamps, and rural healthcare disparities impact the overall health outcomes of individuals in the region. Addressing these barriers is crucial for promoting health equity… Continue reading The Most Common Social Determinants of Health Barriers in West Virginia

Food swamps are a concerning issue in various parts of the United States, including Florida. These areas, such as certain neighborhoods in Miami-Dade County, Tampa, and Orlando, face challenges of limited access to fresh and nutritious food, contributing to health disparities. Efforts are underway in Florida to address food swamps through policies, education, and local… Continue reading Food Swamps are a Concerning Issue in Various Parts of the United States, including Florida

In today’s society, food swamps have become a pressing issue with far-reaching consequences for health equity. These swamps, predominantly found in neighborhoods characterized by lower socioeconomic status, pose significant challenges to accessing fresh and nutritious food options. This lack of access further exacerbates existing disparities in health outcomes across different populations.  In this blog, we… Continue reading Food Swamps have a Profound Impact on Health Equity, Exacerbating Existing Disparities in Health Outcomes Across Different Populations

Many of us have heard of “food deserts”, where the only food available is unhealthy. There are No grocery stores, or corner markets with fresh fruit and vegetables, only fast food and dried/jarred/preserved foods functional. However, these days, the more significant concern is “food swamps,” where there are healthy food options — but the number… Continue reading Part Three: Converting Food Deserts to Food Swamps is Not Enough for Public Health

A food desert is defined by lack of availability; in an area defined as a food desert, there aren’t any options for fresh food. But in a food swamp, there is some fresh food — but the number of unhealthy options drowns it out. In these areas, there may be a supermarket or a farmer’s… Continue reading Part Two: Food Swamps – Where Healthy Choices are Drowned Out

What is a Food Swamp? Food Swamps are areas with a high density of establishments selling high-calorie fast food and junk food, relative to healthier food options.  How to calculate a traditional Food Swamp: Traditional Retail Food Environment Index:  Fast Food/Limited Service Establishment + Convenience Stores Grocery Stores/Supermarkets Food Swamps > Food Deserts: According to… Continue reading Part One: Food Swamps Predict Obesity Rates Better Than Food Deserts in the United States 

Now is the time for healthcare organizations and others to seize the moment and work to eliminate health disparities methodically. Health disparities across the US are primarily driven by social determinants of health, such as access to quality education, affordable health care, food security, and safe living conditions. Systemic bias and stereotyping are known to… Continue reading How Digital Technology Can Enable Health Equity