For the first week of class we had the chance to meet with Doug King, a principal and one of the leading minds for Stance's healthcare sector, to discuss population health and the future of healthcare. As young architects about to enter the field this was a very informative lecture because of its relevance throughout our country. According to King population health is
"A systematic approach that aims to prevent and cure disease by keeping individuals healthy"
As a class we discussed what some of the most influential factors to an individuals health were. While we talked about quite a few different factors like poverty, housing, education, employment, genetics, and many more, Mr. King informed us that an individuals educational experience and their zip code were by far the largest factors.
King also informed us that health management is centered around three main ideas:
Health Behaviors
Social and Economical Factors
The Physical Environment
As Masters students it might have been a little hard to wrap our minds around not being able to have an education, especially one that doesn't even include a high school diploma, but the reality is that there is quite a number of the population that doesn't get to even finish high school. Take a look at the city of Chicago for example. When most people visit the city they are taken aback by the spenders of Michigan Ave and the Gold Coast, but that isn't how the entire city lives. In fact only a small percentage of the city of Chicago has the same opportunities as those living on the North end or the Gold Coast. The image below is taken from the city's health plan for 2016-2020 known as Chicago 2.0.
This image really hits home and allows those unfamiliar with the city to see how different areas or "zip codes" live. I don't think its incorrect to say that the wealthier you are, the better healthcare you are able to afford, and that is becoming a large issue here in Chicago as well as around the country. More data analysis shows that these areas of "hardship" are far from many primary doctors offices, grocery stores, fitness centers, and many other centers that promote and help maintain ones physical and mental health. Stay tuned for more blog posts as our studio uncovers more about the healthcare crisis and how as designers we can learn to design future healthcare campus's and centers!
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