More than $56 billion is spent to treat asthma and more than $200 billion is spent to treat in-home injuries every year.The growing field of health impact assessments (HIAs) provides a way to factor health outcomes into decisions that affect both housing and neighborhoods, such as zoning, road-building, codes, or neighborhood revitalization. With HIAs, doctors and public health experts can work with communities to inform decisions in other fields that will help people lead healthier lives.
Author: Aaron Wernham, Health Impact Project