Public HealthPublic HealthThe “Big Picture”

What is Public Health?What is Public Health?

http://www.thisispublichealth.org/

http://www.generationpublichealth.org/

Thoughts?

What is Public Health?What is Public Health?

The sum of all official or

governmental efforts to promote, protect,

and preserve the people’s health.

Public Health Public Health AchievementsAchievementsTop Ten PH achievements:

◦ Seat belts◦ Tobacco as a health risk◦ Safer work places◦ Healthier moms & babies◦ Vaccines◦ Food safety◦ Water fluoridation◦ Motor vehicle safety◦ Control of infectious diseases◦ Decreased morbidity from heart disease

However, However, “For decades, public health had

been eclipsed by novel surgeries and the drama of the emergency room… The big problem is that when public health is successful, nothing happens, because we’ve prevented it from happening.”

Stephen Smith, Boston Globe, 1/7/2003

Public Health is many Public Health is many thingsthings

A System

A Profession

A Method

Government Service

The Health of the Public

Three Core Functions of Public Three Core Functions of Public HealthHealthAssessment

◦What are the health problems of a population or individual?

Policy Development◦Collectively deciding which actions or

interventions are most appropriate for the problems identified.

Assurance◦The necessary interventions will be put

into place, assuring conditions in which people can be healthy.

http://www.health.gov/phfunctions/public.htm

Unique Features of Public Unique Features of Public HealthHealth

**Social Justice Philosophy

Inherently Political Nature

Expanding Agenda

Link with Government

Grounded in Science

Focus on Preventio

n

**Uncommon Culture

What is Social Justice?What is Social Justice?Justice indicates fairness in the

distribution of benefits and burdens in society.

Access to health services, or even good health itself is considered a social benefit… and conversely, poor health is considered a burden.

There are significant factors within society that impede the fair distribution of benefits and services (e.g. social class, heredity, racism)

Social Justice ContinuedSocial Justice ContinuedMany modern public health

problems disproportionately affect some groups…◦Collective actions are then necessary

This means that those less affected take on greater burdens while not directly benefiting from those actions.

Problems requiring collective Problems requiring collective actions?actions?Health Care Reform

◦Big news right now!

Poor Public Education Systems

Poverty

Uncommon CultureUncommon CulturePublic health is

multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary and utilizes a population-level focus.

The link between people working in Public Health is NOT a specific professional degree or work setting…

Public Health professionals are connected by the intended outcomes of their work.. Promoting, protecting, and preserving the public’s health.

A Sampling of Public Health A Sampling of Public Health ProfessionsProfessions

Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs

Chiropractic health care Community health planning

and policy development Environment Epidemiology Food and nutrition Gerontological health Health administration HIV AIDS Injury Control and Emergency

Health Services International Health Maternal and Child Health

Medical Care Mental Health Occupational Health and

Safety Oral Health Podiatric Health Population, Family

Planning & Reproductive Health

Public Health Education and Health Promotion

Public Health Nursing School Health Education

and Services Social Work