Public health refers to social, cultural, economic, and geographic conditions that affect a population's well-being. To assist local, national, and international health agencies and organizations, RAND conducts research on public health issues including disaster preparedness and recovery; surveillance, prevention, and management of infectious disease outbreaks; screening for and prevention of chronic diseases; and ways to strengthen the public health infrastructure.
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News Releases (14)
Hospital emergency departments play a growing role in the U.S. health care system, accounting for a rising proportion of hospital admissions and serving increasingly as an advanced diagnostic center for primary care physicians.
Federal support for health security research is heavily weighted toward preparing for bioterrorism and other biological threats, providing significantly less funding for challenges such as monster storms or attacks with conventional bombs.
From 2000 to 2010, the proportion of Americans who were severely obese—those people 100 pounds or more overweight—rose from 3.9 percent of the population to 6.6 percent—an increase of about 70 percent.
A new collection of essays by experts from the RAND Corporation examines America in the decade since the 9/11 terrorist attacks, focusing a critical eye on the nation's actions since the attacks and outlining changes in strategy needed to improve efforts against jihadist groups.
Communities can build resilience to disasters through efforts such as joint planning of government and non-governmental organizations and the development of community networks.
Small sales taxes on soft drinks in the range currently in force in some states are insufficient to reduce consumption of soda or curb obesity among children.
California's dirty air caused more than $193 million in hospital-based medical care from 2005 to 2007 as people sought help for problems such as asthma and pneumonia that are triggered by elevated pollution levels.
American adults are not being vaccinated against the seasonal flu any more often than they were last year, despite increased public discussion of the importance of influenza vaccines resulting from the worldwide outbreak of the H1N1 virus.
A federal program designed to help metropolitan public health agencies prepare to deliver essential medicines to the public after a large-scale bioterror attack or natural disease outbreak has succeeded in improving the level of readiness.
Public health departments that staff disease-reporting hotlines with live operators at all times are more likely to meet federal guidelines designed to help stop the spread of infectious diseases.
April 5, 2007 news release: RAND Panel Identifies Key Components of Public Health Emergency Preparedness.
November 14, 2006 News Release: AND Study Shows Relatively Little Public Money Spent Providing Health Care to Undocumented Immigrants
September 7, 2006 News Release: RAND Study Shows Providing Health Insurance to Low-Income Children Improves Their Quality of Life.
May 2, 2006 News Release: Study Finds Middle-Aged Americans Less Healthy Than English Counterparts.
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