Is HIA one standard tool?
No, HIA is not one single tool, but generally refers to a systematic process that may use diverse tools and methods. HIA may be conducted by a single expert or public institution, or by a community organization. HIA may be conducted independently or integrated within existing regulatory and non-regulatory assessment processes. Finally, HIA can use existing data and published research, or it can include the collection and analysis of new data using multiple quantitative and qualitative methods. Health Impact Assessments are highly tailored to work with the specific needs, timeline and resources of each particular project. The practice of HIA in the United States and internationally is varied. In practice, HIAs are flexible and share boundaries with other forms of decision analysis processes, such as Environmental Impact Assessment.
