Our nation is unhealthy, and it is costing us all through poorer quality-of-life and lost productivity. Health in America is worse than in other developed nations on more than 100 measures. Thirty countries have lower infant mortality rates and people in 26 countries can expect to live longer than we do. While it is true that the United States spends more on health care than any other country—more than $2.7 trillion in 2011—part of the reason we spend so much on health care is that so many Americans are in such poor health. The key to better health does not lie primarily in more effective health care, although that is both important and desirable. To become healthier and reduce the growth of public and private spending on medical care, we must create a seismic shift in how we approach health and the actions we take. As a country, we need to expand our focus to address how to stay healthy in the first place. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s (RWJF’s) new vision is to create a culture of health. To promote this vision, the RWJF invests significantly in evaluation and research that is rigorous, timely and actionable. We are committed to developing evidence to help foster effective policy and practice, and sharing lessons to help advance our nation’s work to improve health for all.
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