W H AT IS P UB L IC H EALT H ?

CIRO V. SUMAYA, MD, MPHTM

PROFESSOR, HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENTFOUNDING DEAN (1997-2008), SCHOOL OF RURAL PUBLIC HEALTH

COX ENDOWED CHAIR TEXAS A&M HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER

DEFINITION

• Promotion of health, Protection of health, Prevention of disease

• Emphasis on community/populations NOT individuals

• IOM: “…public health is what society does collectively to assure the conditions for people to be healthy….”

DEFINITION(Continued)

• Assessment, assurance, policy development• Ten essential public health services • Social determinants of health • Enumeration – taxonomy, BLS

CREDITS OF PUBLIC HEALTH

• Reduced infant mortality and morbidity • Innovative infrastructure for advancement in

technology to provide immunizations for disease prevention

• Clean air and • Safer workplace • Confronting environmental and behavioral

problems

10 ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES

• Monitor health status

• Diagnose and investigate health problems

• Inform, educate, and empower people

• Mobilize community partnerships

• Develop policies

10 ESSENTIAL PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES (continued)

• Enforce laws and regulations

• Link people to needed health care

• Assure a competent public and personal health care workforce

• Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services

• Research

EXAMPLE OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN ACTION – HIV/AIDS

• Epidemiology, Biostatistics/data, Reporting, Surveillance, Social Sciences, Behavioral Interventions, Health Literacy, Community Partnerships

- - - - - - • Microbiology, Immunology, Clinical Medicine,

Medication,

CHANGING HEALTH CARE/HEALTH ENVIRONMENT - REPRESENTATIVE

• Population demographics• Aging• Chronic diseases• Socio-behavioral problems• Costs/Quality/Access

CHANGING HEALTH CARE/HEALTH ENVIRONMENT – REPRESENTATIVE

(Continued)

• Health and Workforce Disparities• Interdisciplinary collaborations• Health system modeling, reimbursement

options • Need for PREVENTION orientation• Global connectedness