1.1 Defining public health and its goals

Public health aims to prevent disease and promote well-being for entire populations. It's a broad field that covers everything from stopping disease outbreaks to making sure we have clean air and water. The goal is to keep everyone healthy, not just treat sick individuals.

Public health pros work on big-picture stuff like vaccination programs, disaster response, and pushing for laws that make our communities healthier. They focus on prevention and creating environments where people can thrive, tackling issues that affect whole groups rather than just one person at a time.

Public health scope and objectives

Defining public health

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• Public health is the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private communities, and individuals
• Encompasses a wide range of activities, including disease prevention, health promotion, environmental health, occupational health, and emergency preparedness
• Aims to prevent epidemics and the spread of disease, protect against environmental hazards, prevent injuries, promote and encourage healthy behaviors, respond to disasters and assist communities in recovery, and assure the quality and accessibility of health services

Key objectives of public health

• Prevent epidemics and the spread of disease by implementing strategies such as vaccination programs, disease surveillance, and outbreak investigations
• Protect against environmental hazards through activities such as monitoring air and water quality, enforcing environmental regulations, and promoting safe and healthy living and working conditions
• Prevent injuries through initiatives such as promoting the use of seat belts and bike helmets, implementing safety regulations in the workplace, and educating the public about injury prevention strategies
• Promote and encourage healthy behaviors through public education campaigns, community-based health promotion programs, and policies that support healthy lifestyles (tobacco control policies)
• Respond to disasters and assist communities in recovery by providing emergency medical services, conducting disease surveillance, and coordinating relief efforts with other agencies and organizations
• Assure the quality and accessibility of health services by monitoring and regulating healthcare providers, implementing programs to improve access to care for underserved populations, and advocating for policies that support a strong and equitable healthcare system

Core functions of public health

Assessment

• Monitoring the health status of a community by collecting and analyzing data on health outcomes, risk factors, and social determinants of health
• Investigating health problems and hazards in the community through activities such as disease surveillance, environmental health assessments, and outbreak investigations
• Diagnosing and investigating health problems and health hazards in the community by conducting epidemiological studies, laboratory testing, and other research activities

Policy development

• Informing, educating, and empowering people about health issues through public education campaigns, community outreach, and other communication strategies
• Mobilizing community partnerships to identify and solve health problems by engaging stakeholders from various sectors (healthcare, education, business) in collaborative efforts to address public health challenges
• Developing policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts through activities such as advocating for public health funding, developing and implementing public health laws and regulations, and creating community health improvement plans

Assurance

• Enforcing laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety through activities such as inspecting food establishments, enforcing environmental regulations, and regulating healthcare providers
• Linking people to needed personal health services by implementing programs to improve access to care for underserved populations, coordinating care across healthcare settings, and advocating for policies that support a strong and equitable healthcare system
• Assuring a competent public health and personal healthcare workforce through activities such as providing training and education for public health professionals, setting standards for public health practice, and collaborating with educational institutions to develop public health curricula
• Evaluating the effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population-based health services through activities such as conducting program evaluations, assessing health outcomes, and monitoring healthcare quality indicators

Public health for population well-being

Focus on population health

• Public health focuses on the health of entire populations, rather than individuals, by implementing strategies to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities across communities
• Professionals work to identify and address the social, economic, and environmental determinants of health that influence the health of populations (poverty, education, housing)
• Interventions aim to create conditions in which people can be healthy by promoting healthy lifestyles, preventing the spread of infectious diseases, ensuring access to safe and healthy environments, and advocating for policies that support health and well-being

Emergency response and preparedness

• Plays a critical role in responding to public health emergencies, such as disease outbreaks (COVID-19), natural disasters (hurricanes), and bioterrorism threats, to protect the health and safety of communities
• Develops and implements emergency response plans, conducts disease surveillance and outbreak investigations, and coordinates with other agencies and organizations to provide medical care and other support services during emergencies
• Works to build community resilience and preparedness by educating the public about emergency preparedness, promoting the development of emergency stockpiles and infrastructure, and advocating for policies and funding to support emergency response efforts

Public health vs medicine and healthcare

Different focus and approach

• Public health focuses on promoting and protecting the health of populations, while medicine and healthcare focus on diagnosing, treating, and managing the health of individuals
• Interventions are aimed at preventing disease and promoting health at the population level, while medical interventions are typically aimed at treating existing health problems in individuals
• Professionals come from a wide range of disciplines, including epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, health policy, and behavioral science, while healthcare professionals typically have clinical training in medicine, nursing, or allied health fields

Funding and collaboration

• Public health is primarily funded by government agencies and non-profit organizations, while healthcare is primarily funded by private insurance, government programs (Medicare, Medicaid), and individual payments
• Collaboration between public health and healthcare is essential for improving population health outcomes and ensuring access to comprehensive health services
• Public health professionals often work with healthcare providers to implement population-based interventions, such as vaccination programs and chronic disease management initiatives, while healthcare providers rely on public health expertise to inform clinical practice and patient care