Bell - ringer

• Please have out name card in front of you

• With your “table” group or seat partner, answer this question: What is public health?

• Be prepared to share your ideas

Public Health Unit

The Public Health System

Public Health Lesson Objectives:

TSWBAT:–Define the following terms: public health, epidemiology, epidemic, pandemic, communicable diseases and heart disease.–Understand the role of government public health organizations & identify the role of its agencies.–Understand & identify private health organizations–Describe the role of the U.S. Surgeon General & secretary of HHS–Identify local public heath laws that guide our community.

What is Public Health?

• Includes all efforts to monitor, protect, and promote the health of the population as a whole.

• Includes agencies that work to prevent disease & promote the general health of the public.

• Public health agencies operate on all levels – local, state, national, and even worldwide.

Public Health Terms

• Epidemiology:– the study of diseases

in populations

What are examples of health problems that might affect an entire population?

Public Health Terms

• Epidemic: – A widespread amount

of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.

• Pandemic:– A sickness or disease

is out of control throughout a region or a country

Public Health Terms

• Communicable Diseases: – An infectious disease

that can be transmitted from one individual to another

– Spreads by direct or indirect contact

• Heart Disease:– #1 cause of death in

the United States– Includes problems

associated with the heart and blood vessels

– An example of a non-communicable disease

A Healthy Community is…..

• A group of people living together and making decisions that affect their health, the health of others, & the environment.

• People in their community must know & follow the public health laws in order to provide for a healthy community.

Laws for a Healthy Community

• Snow removal• Trash/waste pick-up• Grass cutting• Pet clean-up• Smoke-free restaurants/bars• http://www.dumblaws.com/laws/united-stat

es/pennsylvania

Public Health Agencies• Public health agencies operate on all

levels – local, state, national, and even worldwide.

• They work to make communities healthy by:

Researching health problemsProviding health servicesEducating the publicDeveloping and enforcing policies that

promote health

Government Public Health

Local

Montgomery County

Government agency

responsible by law for thehealth & well-

being of peoplein your

community, city, county, or township.

State

Pennsylvania

Government agency

responsible by law for the

health & well-being of people in your state.

National

Department of Heath & Human Services (HHS)

Federal government is responsible for the

administration & planningof health in our country.

Divided into 4 offices:1. Health care financing2. Public Health Services3. Office of Human Dev. 4. Social Security Admin.

International

World Health Organization

(WHO)

To improve the health & well-

being throughout the world. Located in Geneva,

Switzerland.

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

• Includes 10 agencies that promote public health in various ways.

• The agencies in HHS oversee more than 300 health-related programs.

Health and Human Services Agencies - Examples

1. National Institute of Health (NIH) – conducts and funds medical research

2. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – ensures the safety of foods, cosmetics & medicines

3. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) – works to track, prevent, and control outbreaks of disease

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

• Appointed by the President of the USA

• Goal is to improve America’s health & enhance the delivery of human services

• http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/about/biography/index.html

HHS - U.S. Surgeon GeneralRegina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA

• Director of the U.S. public health services

• Physician appointed by the U.S. President

• Provides the public with the best scientific information available on how to improve their health and the health of the nation

• Oversees the operational command of 6,500 uniformed public health officers who serve in locations around the world to promote and protect the health of the American people

Public Health Organizations

• Public Health organizations can be:– Voluntary

• (American Red Cross) – Private

• ( Blue Cross / Blue Shield Health Insurance Company)

– Professional • (AMA – American Medical

Association)– Corporate

• (Merck)

Private Health Organizations

• Organizations, Foundations, Associations, etc. that are not government regulated:

• Funded by (some are non-profit):– Donations– Partnerships– Volunteers (Free Labor)

Public Health Discussion

• What do you think the Top 10 Achievements in Public Health are?

• What are some professions in public health?

• What public health topics do you think are most important today?