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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.

Report

The U.S. System of Care for Infectious Diseases Could Be Improved

Feb 7, 2020

The current system of care for rare but serious infectious diseases in the United States could be strengthened or more formalized in several ways. But how could these efforts be financed, both in terms of initial investments and long-term sustainability?
Project

Informing the Gun Policy Debate

Mar 1, 2018

RAND's Gun Policy in America initiative provides information on what scientific research can tell us about the effects of gun laws. Our goal is to establish a shared set of facts that will improve public discussions and support the development of fair and effective gun policies.

Explore Public Health

Commentary

Commentary

On the Horns of the COVID-19 Dilemma

COVID-19 poses two dire threats to the United States: the potential deaths of many thousands of Americans, and the devastation of the $22 trillion annual economy. Protecting the health of as many people as possible by shutting down ordinary life seems completely justifiable, but that necessarily inflicts ...

Mar 30, 2020
Blog

COVID-19 and the Economy, America's Blood Supply, 10 Years of the ACA: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on COVID-19 and the economy, strengthening the U.S. blood supply, 10 years of the Affordable Care Act, and more.

Mar 27, 2020
Commentary

COVID-19 Effects on Strategic Dynamics in the Middle East

The pandemic is sure to have transformational effects everywhere, and the Middle East is no exception. But it's unlikely that the crisis will lead to new regional strategic dynamics. Rather, it's more likely to reinforce existing and largely negative trend lines.

Mar 26, 2020
Multimedia

The Economic Impacts of COVID-19

In this Call with the Experts podcast, RAND researchers discuss the impacts the COVID-19 outbreak might have on the global economy and consider policy actions that could be taken to help facilitate rapid economic recovery.

Mar 23, 2020
Blog

Experts Discuss COVID-19: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on COVID-19, how the United States is responding to the coronavirus outbreak, the spread of misinformation during this time, and more.

Mar 20, 2020
Journal Article

Journal Article

Does Shared Decision Making Actually Occur in the Emergency Department? Looking at It from the Patients' Perspective

Utilizing a cross-sectional, multisite approach, we administered an instrument, consisting of two validated shared decisionmaking assessment tools and one newly developed tool to a sample of emergency department patients.

Mar 19, 2020
Q&A

U.S. COVID-19 Cases on the Rise: Q&A with RAND Experts

COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, is now in all 50 states. And more and more U.S. cases and deaths are being reported. As orders to close schools and restaurants take effect across America, RAND researchers answer some questions about the crisis.

Mar 18, 2020
Commentary

Why Prioritizing Sleep in the Time of Coronavirus Is So Important

The coronavirus has required many people to drastically alter their daily schedules, which can wreak havoc on sleep. But there are simple strategies that can help support sleep—and well-being—during this trying time.

Mar 17, 2020
Commentary

Coronavirus, Telemedicine, and Dustbusters

Telemedicine has been with us for decades. And yet it hasn't transformed health care in the way that ATMs have transformed banking or cordless vacuums have transformed household cleaning. But the coronavirus pandemic could forever change how telemedicine is used.

Mar 16, 2020
Commentary

Coronavirus Forces Colleges Online. Will Learning Ever Be the Same?

Colleges and universities have turned to online courses to help slow the spread of COVID-19. But distance learning may also hold promise as a long-term strategy to help make higher education more accessible and affordable.

Mar 16, 2020
Multimedia

The U.S. Response to COVID-19

In this Call with the Experts podcast, RAND researchers discuss the U.S. COVID-19 response from a variety of perspectives including pandemic preparedness, emergency response capacity and delivery, and economic impacts.

Mar 16, 2020
Testimony

Testimony

From SARS to 2019-Coronavirus (nCoV): U.S.-China Collaborations on Pandemic Response: Addendum

Document submitted March 5, 2020, as an addendum to testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation on February 5, 2020.

Mar 16, 2020
Commentary

COVID-19: A Stress Test for a U.S. Health Care System Already Under Stress

There are many things hospitals and health systems could be doing in the coming weeks to best prepare for the advancing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Evaluating their surge response plans will be critical.

Mar 12, 2020
Journal Article

Journal Article

Continuity of Operations Plan Improvement Tool for Public Health Laboratories

Public health laboratories are in various stages of development of their continuity of operations plan (COOP). The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) contracted with RAND to develop and pilot test a COOP tabletop exercise.

Mar 12, 2020
Commentary

Estimates of COVID-19's Fatality Rate Might Change. And Then Change Again.

With infections of the new coronavirus confirmed in countries around the world, people are following the daily tally of COVID-19 cases, wondering exactly how lethal this new disease is. The truth is, it's hard to know.

Mar 11, 2020
Multimedia

Assessment of COVID-19's Impact on Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

An overview of testimony by Jennifer Bouey presented before the House Small Business Committee on March 10, 2020 discussing the impact of COVID-19 on small and medium-sized businesses.

Mar 10, 2020
Commentary

A Coronavirus Election? Look to the Bottom of the Ticket

As the coronavirus spreads in communities, it will be mayors, county judges, and school superintendents—not federal officials—who make the tough calls about whether to declare a state of emergency or shutter public schools and other institutions.

Mar 9, 2020
Multimedia

The Global Spread of COVID-19: Call with RAND Experts

In this Call with the Experts podcast, RAND researchers answer a wide range of questions about the recent outbreak of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19.

Mar 4, 2020
Multimedia

The Connection Between Civic Engagement and Health

Christopher Nelson, senior political scientist with the RAND Corporation, discusses the connection between civic engagement and health.

Mar 2, 2020
Blog

Civic Engagement and Health, the State of the Union, Better Sleep: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the link between civic engagement and health, policy insights from the State of the Union address, what couples can do to improve their sleep, and more.

Feb 7, 2020

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