1. Public Health Core Functions
LOUIS ROWITZ, PhD
DIRECTOR
Mid-America Regional Public Health Leadership Institute

2. Pyramid of Public Health System Preparedness
Response
Bioterrorism
Emerging infections
Other health status
Surveillance
Laboratory
Practice
Epidemic
Investigations
Essential Capabilities
Workforce Capacity & Competency
Information & Data Systems
Organizational Capacity
Basic Infrastructure

3. CORE FUNCTIONS: A PRACTITIONER AND AN AGENCY PERSPECTIVE
DIAGNOSIS
ASSESSMENT
RULES OF PROFESSIONAL PROTOCALS
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
TREATMENT
ASSURANCE

4. ASSESSMENT IS… All the activities involved in community diagnosis:
Surveillance
Needs assessment
Analysis of cause of problems

5. ASSESSMENT IS… Collection and interpretation of data Case-finding
Monitoring and forecasting trends
Research and evaluation

6. ASSESSMENT DATA SOURCES: Personal Health Data:
Vital statistics
Epidemiology
Health screening
Special disease or population registries
Laboratory test data
Hospital discharge data
Research
Behavioral Risk Factor Data

7. ASSESSMENT DATA SOURCES: Data about community concerns & resources:
Health resource inventory
Public forums
Polling
Special methods-
APEX, PH part 2, PATCH, MAPP, etc
Information from private & non-profit providers
Research

10. Four MAPP Assessments Community themes and strengths assessment
Identifies issues that interest the community, perceptions about quality of life, and community assets

11. Four MAPP Assessments Local public health system assessment
Measures the capacity and performance of the local public health system-all organizations and entities that contribute to the public’s health

12. Four MAPP Assessments Community health status assessment
Assesses data about health status, quality of life, and risk factors in the community

13. Four MAPP Assessments Forces of change assessment
Identifies forces that are or will be affecting the community of the local public health system

14. ASSESSMENT DATA SOURCES: Methods of distribution of findings:
Annual vital statistics report
Special projects report
State health report
Monographs
Fact sheets
Professional publications
Media releases

15. ASSESSMENT DATA SOURCES: Data on the range & quality of services:
Selected treatment management review data
Consumer complaint follow-up information
Facility & professional licensure data
Research

16. ASSESSMENT DATA SOURCES: Environmental Health Data:
Sanitary survey
Air & water monitoring
Public reforms
Facility inspections
Laboratory test data
Research

17. THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS ENTAILS…
Collaboration
Decision-making about problems
Choice of goals and steps to meet them
Conflict resolution and negotiation

18. THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS:
Defines health needs
Sets priority health issues by analyzing the outcome of assessment
Develops policies and plans to address the most important health needs by setting goals & objectives with measurable objectives
Develops alternative strategies for implementing plans
Identifies necessary & available resources

19. THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS USES:
Scientific information
Data from the assessment process
Information from concerned citizens & providers

20. THE POLICY DEVELOPMENT PROCESS USES:
Concepts of political & organizational feasibility
Community values
An open process, involving all private & public sectors by communicating, networking & building constituencies

21. THE ASSURANCE FUNCTION INVOLVES:
Implementation of legislative mandates and statutory responsibilities
Development of adequate responses to crises
Support crucial services that have worked in the past

22. THE ASSURANCE FUNCTION INVOLVES:
Regulation of services and products provided in both the public and private sectors
Maintain accountability to the people by setting objectives and reporting on progress

23. THE ASSURANCE FUNCTION INVOLVES:
Maintenance of a level of service needed to attain an intended impact or outcome that is achievable given the resources and techniques available

24. ASSURANCE The Assurance function calls upon public health agencies to:
Provide public health nursing services
Provide environmental health services
Encourage, purchase or provide additional population-based services
Maintain emergency response capacity

25. ASSURANCE The Assurance function calls upon public health agencies to:
Administer quality assurance
Help recruit & retain health care practitioners
Maintain administrative capacity

26. THE TEN ORGANIZATIONAL PRACTICES OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Assessment
Assess the health needs of the community
Investigate the occurrence of health effects and health hazards in the community
Analyze the determinants of identified health needs

27. THE TEN ORGANIZATIONAL PRACTICES OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Policy
Development
4. Advocate for public health, build constituencies, and identify resources in the community
Set priorities among health needs
Develop plans and policies to address priority health needs

28. THE TEN ORGANIZATIONAL PRACTICES OF PUBLIC HEALTH
Assurance
Manage resources and develop organizational structure
Implement programs
Evaluate programs and provide quality assurance
Inform and educate the public

29. The capacity of the public health system is its ability to perform the core functions of assessment, policy development, and assurance on a continuous, consistent basis made possible by maintenance of the basic infrastructure of the public health system, including human, capital, and technology resources. The smooth running of the system requires the application of sound leadership skills at all levels of the public health system.
-Modified from the Washington State Public Improvement Plan, March 1994

30. Public Health in the U.S.

31. Healthy People in Healthy Communities
Vision:
Healthy People in Healthy Communities

32. Mission:
Promote Physical and Mental Health and Prevent Disease, Injury, and Disability

33. Public Health Prevents epidemics and the spread of disease
Protects against environmental hazards
Prevents injuries
Promotes and encourages healthy behaviors
Responds to disasters and assists communities in recovery
Assures the quality and accessibility of health services

34. Essential Public Health Services
Monitor health status to identify community health problems
Diagnose and investigate health problems and health hazards in the community
Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues

35. Essential Public Health Services
Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems
Develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts
Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety

36. Essential Public Health Services
Link people with needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable
Assure a competent public health and personal health care workforce

37. Essential Public Health Services
Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services
Research for new insights and innovative solutions to health problems
Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

38. Public Health: The foundation of a national health system
Secondary Medical Care
Primary Medical Care
Essential Population-Based Public Health Services
Human Resources Development(Training)
Information Systems
Community Planning Systems
Tertiary Medical Care
Capacity to Deliver Public Health Services
Public Health System Infrastructure
Human Resources Development (Training)
Information Systems
Community Planning Systems

39. The Future