As rural pharmacies close, elderly patients with polypharmacy (multiple daily medications) face 50+ mile trips. Non-adherence rises; preventable hospitalizations follow.
Population health is not merely the sum of individual health statuses. It is a complex, dynamic ecosystem shaped by social determinants, economic policies, environmental hazards, and historical injustices. Within this ecosystem, vulnerable populations—those with increased risk of poor health outcomes due to limited resources, social marginalization, or biological susceptibility—serve as the canaries in the coal mine. When a society’s population health declines, vulnerable groups suffer first and worst. As rural pharmacies close
If you are new to population health and want to understand vulnerable populations in your region (or globally) using free online tools: dynamic ecosystem shaped by social determinants