Healthy People 2020, Part 1: Roadmap For The Nation'S Health

Course overview

Healthy People is the nation's roadmap for better health, providing our society with a vision for improving the quantity and quality of life for all Americans. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy People initiative provides evidence-based, 10-year national objectives for improving the health of all Americans. Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are responsible for seven out of 10 deaths among Americans each year and account for 75% of the nation's health spending. Many of the risk factors that contribute to the development of these diseases are preventable. For three decades, Healthy People has established benchmarks and monitored progress over time to (1) encourage collaboration across communities and sectors; (2) empower people to make informed health decisions; and (3) measure the impact of prevention activities. Nurses and other healthcare professionals should be informed about the Healthy People2020 initiative so that they can educate and encourage their patients to participate in disease prevention strategies.