Public and Population Health are similar but distinct initiatives focused on improving the health of communities. Population Health focuses on the health outcomes of subpopulations and its policies aim to improve the health outcomes for these specific groups of the population. Public Health also focuses on improving the health of communities, but does so by focusing on preventing disease or injury. Public Health policies use prevention to improve the health outcomes of communities. Policies enacted by the government can produce barriers or opportunities to innovations in healthcare. This section will provide an overview of public health and population health and the policies influencing healthcare.