Public health is poised to enter a transformative era in 2025, driven by technology, a renewed focus on health equity, and global challenges.
What’s ahead for public health in 2025? Here’s a rundown of the key trends shaping the field, as well as the Primary.Health technology and clinical solutions that will prepare communities and public health agencies to meet these challenges head on.
1. Data Modernization for Public Health Systems
Upgrading data infrastructure remains a priority as public health departments and public health laboratories (PHLs) adopt real-time analytics and interoperable systems. These advancements enhance disease surveillance, outbreak response, and resource allocation, ensuring faster and more effective interventions.
Primary.Health CONNECT, our interoperability and data exchange framework for PHLs, has linked 16 of 29 PHLs in California so far. In one case this year, CONNECT prevented interruption to vital testing services at one lab when severe flooding impacted the area.
2. Expanding Health Equity Initiatives
Health equity continues to be a central focus, with efforts to address disparities in access to care, chronic disease management, and social determinants of health. Community-based programs like our network of 22 telehealth-powered Michigan Neighborhood Wellness Clinics are gaining traction to ensure underserved populations receive adequate support.
3. Global Collaboration on Emerging Threats
With lessons learned from COVID-19, global health organizations are prioritizing collaborative frameworks for addressing pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, and zoonotic diseases like H5N1 (bird flu). Integration and collaboration are at the heart of Primary.Health’s call to action to significantly enhance H5N1 surveillance. This approach has helped Primary to evolve from a COVID-19 response platform into a proven public health technology partner serving nearly 7 million patients across 28 states.
4. Focus on Climate and Health
The intersection of climate change and public health is more prominent than ever. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events are linked to health challenges such as vector-borne diseases, respiratory issues, and waterborne illnesses. In 2025, we expect an increased emphasis on climate-resilient health policies and community preparedness, including the monitoring of air quality, both indoors and out.
5. Public Health Workforce Development
Investing in the public health workforce is crucial to meet current and future challenges. Training programs focusing on digital literacy, data analysis, and leadership empower professionals to adapt to an evolving landscape. Knowing community health workers (CHWs) were key to the success of a yearlong STI testing pilot in Marin County, California, Primary.Health provided virtual bilingual training on our administration platform to participating CHWs.
6. Mental Health Integration
Mental health is being integrated into primary healthcare systems to address growing demands. In fact, one study showed that 41% of patients preferred to have behavioral health concerns addressed within primary care, versus 7.5% of patients preferring areferral to a specialist.
How do we make mental health care more accessible and destigmatized? Digital platforms, telehealth solutions, and workplace wellness programs are good places to start. That’s why when following up with patients in our Neighborhood Wellness Clinics, Primary.Health telehealth nurse practitioners are alert to patients’ needs that go beyond the clinical and refer them to appropriate resources.
Make Us Your Public Health Partner
We’re committed to empowering and equipping public health professionals to adapt to new challenges in the year to come and better safeguard the well-being of their communities. Take the journey with us – talk to our team about our large scale solutions for health management community wellness, PHLs, and more.
