For the Public’s Health: The Role of Measurement in Action and Accountability

April 18, 2011

Despite having the costliest medical care delivery system in the world, Americans are not particularly healthy. While this information is alarming, the bigger problem is that we do not know how to reverse this trend. Our lack of knowledge is due in large part to significant inadequacies in the system for gathering, analyzing, and communicating health information about the population. In this report, the IOM reviews current approaches for measuring the health of individuals and communities and creates a roadmap for future development. (National Academies Press)