With the current pandemic, we’ve seen a lot about Public Health departments or professionals. From local news to national briefings, these individuals often share warnings and other information. But, what is Public Health?
Well, it’s a little complicated to explain.
Definitions of Public Health
The short version? Public health is the study of preventing disease and improving life for the general public.
One of the leaders in public health, Charles-Edward A. Winslow, described it as:
The science and the art of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting physical health and efficiency through organized community efforts for the sanitation of the environment, the control of community infections, the education of the individuals in principles of personal hygiene, the organization of medical and nursing services for the early diagnosis and preventive treatment of disease, and the development of the social machinery which will ensure to every individual in the community a standard of living adequate for the maintenance of health. (Schneider, Mary-Jane, 2006. Introduction to Public Health. pg 5)
This is a pretty confusing definition in my opinion. But, it also encompasses much of what those in this field do. Part of why it’s difficult to nail down is that this field is huge. It includes epidemiologists (those who study determinants of health and diseases), public policy personnel, and reproductive/sexual health educators. We often see medical professionals involved, too, such as nurses, doctors, and therapists.
The world of medicine is often focused on how to diagnose and treat conditions. In contrast, public health is focused on what makes people more susceptible, countering anti-vaccination misinformation, educating the public, and tracing infections. It takes an interdisciplinary team to handle the issues we find. That’s especially true in a pandemic! This includes the distribution of tests, recommendations for how to keep us safe, and tracing who infected individuals may have had contact with.
What does this look like in action?
One great illustration of what this field looks like is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, AKA the CDC. The main goal of the CDC is to protect the general public. They do this with a staff full of those who study diseases and outbreaks, health promotion, preventing injuries, and tracking chronic disease statistics. The CDC also talks a lot about emergency preparedness, something integral to the public’s wellbeing.
Another great example is your state’s Department of Health Services. Public health measures often live here and maybe their own department or division under the DHS umbrella. DHS may cover the following aspects of public health:
- Certifications for caregivers
- Alcohol licenses
- Healthcare coverage information (particularly Medicaid & Medicare)
- Long-term care information
- Mental health resources
- Climate change
- Specific health challenges for marginalized communities (e.g., Black and Brown folx, migrants, refugees, LGBTQ+)
- Nutrition and food assistance
- Vaccination rates
- Demographic and population information
- Chronic disease statistics, interventions, and prevention
They also work on grants from places like the CDC to see how to make positive changes in communities, especially around chronic diseases.
Local universities will also often be involved in these efforts, especially in areas with world-renowned higher education facilities. Departments there involved might include the medical school, school of nursing, epidemiology, oncology, population health, and more.
Cool, right?
I’m a nerd, so, of course, I think it’s cool. I also just started officially working in public health!
I get to help improve communications for the chronic disease prevention team. They work a lot on efforts related to stroke, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and oral health. I’m really excited!
So, do you have questions about Public Health?