The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) hosted a symposium, “Shifting the Nation’s Health Investments to Support Long, Healthy Lives for All” on March 6th and 7th. NASEM’s Roundtable on Population Health Improvement, moderated by co-chair Raymond Baxter, Ph.D., hosted the event in response to America’s deteriorating health and shortening average life span despite high healthcare spending relative to other developed countries. Two previous NASEM reports from 2012 and 2013 examined these trends and provided recommendations.
[US Health in International Perspective: Shorter Lives, Poorer Health Report, 2013] | [For the Public’s Health: Investing in a Healthier Future Report, 2012]
The symposium aimed to inspire community engagement and allow leading thinkers to share sustainable strategies and chart a plan of action for national health and well-being, so as to not have the same conversation in another decade.
[Recording and Meeting Materials] [Symposium Agenda (PDF, 229 KB)]
Discussion highlights included the following topics:
- Modernizing healthcare infrastructure to focus on wellness and disease prevention, calling for proactive rather than reactive measures.
- Building effective communication and establishing trust within communities by speaking to values, shared goals, and motivations, and listening through the audience’s perspective.
- Guiding a shared ownership for health by equipping under-privileged communities with strategy, appropriate messaging, access, and financing.
