143 - Evaluating the complex array of approaches in the process to translate medical findings into health impacts

 



Abstract Information: 
Core issue/ question: Evaluating health impacts: A discussion on ways to conceptualize and operationalize evaluation that is flexible enough to tailor to specific contexts, and also interconnected enough to use as shared approaches to assess impacts across differing health settings.
Context: The strategies taken to improve human health are as diverse as the current health needs that exist. Based on their role, evaluators may be involved in one or many of the steps on the long and diverse arc to translate from scientific discovery, to implementation of health interventions or resources in applied settings, to achieving measurable health benefits. Evaluators at universities, medical centers, companies, non-profits, and in governmental and policy settings have unique considerations for how to measure and assess impact on health, but important commonalities such as target health priorities and target impacts for improving health, likely also exist.
Breakout Groups: Discuss current and proposed strategies to track, measure, and evaluate health outcomes and/or impact for activities, with application to four broad settings.
1. Healthcare settings
2. Commercial or industry settings
3. Non-profit and health services settings
4. Public health or Governmental settings
Small groups will rotate to consider and discuss each of the topics, identify approaches that work in specific discrete contexts, as well as possibilities for interconnected approaches to evaluate impact. Attendees will be asked to consider:
- What has previously worked to assess health outcomes and impacts? Also, were there lessons learned from challenges to past approaches?

- Ideally what other approaches would you take to collect and assess health impacts if anything were open to you?
- Are there commonalities across context and opportunities for shared approaches to assess health impact?