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?