Significant Figures in Public Health
After completing your Reading, download a copy of the Approved Public Health Figures. Then, look over Table 1-1 “Public Health Eras” in Chapter 1 of the textbook and choose a public health figure.First, explain what is meant by the term epidemiological transition. Give a brief overview of the public health figure you chose and the work they did in public health. Which public health era did they work in and what challenges did they face? How is the world still benefiting from your chosen public health figure's work? Finally, describe the role your public health figure played in epidemiological transition during their era. P.E.R.I.E. Process In this Discussion Board share what you believe is the most difficult stage of the P.E.R.I.E. process for public health workers to carry out and why you believe this. Some of you may believe that defining exactly what the problem is, is what poses the most difficulty for health officials. Others might think that implementing an effective program to deal with the problem is the most grueling part of the process. Health Informatics, Communications, and Health Disparities Now, more than ever before, informatics and communications play a significant role in not only how health data is collected, compiled, and presented, but also how the public perceives and combines this data to make their health decisions. Tremendous advances in media technologies in recent years have had both positive and negative impacts on the public’s health. The internet has opened the door for millions of people to access credible health information, such as vital and health statistics, to health alerts and warnings at any given moment. Yet, this same media venue has made it possible for people to purchase illicit drugs and become involved in other illegal and high risk behaviors. With such great advancements in communication technologies, it is imperative that health officials determine the significant impact that informatics and communications has upon the social determinants of public health; religion, education, culture/ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. After completing your Reading for this unit, answer the following question: Where does public health data come from and how is this information compiled to measure the health of populations? Then answer two of the following questions: 1. Describe at least one way in which religion may affect health and provide an example. 2. How can socio economic status affect health? Give at least one example. 3. How can culture affect health? Give at least one example. 4. How can health informatics and communications be used to improve the health disparities that exist in the United States? Police Powers Americans hold dear the many rights afforded to them through this nation’s Constitution. For example, every day citizens all across this country exercise their rights to free speech, to assemble, and to hold and practice their religious beliefs. Yet, many people are surprised to learn that there is nothing in this nation’s constitution that provides the right to health or health care services. In fact, the word “health” does not appear anywhere in this document. However, the Constitution does allow for individual states to pass legislation aimed at protecting the common good. As such, all states have what has become known as “police powers.” These powers allow authorities to take steps to protect society against serious communicable diseases, even when those steps may temporarily infringe upon an individual’s Constitutional rights. After completing your Reading, review Box 5-2:”Quarantine as a Public Health Authority,” in the textbook. Go to the National Conference of State Legislatures and review the state law where you reside with regard to the use of quarantine as a public health tool to protect citizens from serious communicable diseases. Then answer the following questions: 1. How is the use of quarantine justified in terms of the Constitutional rights guaranteed to American citizens in this country? 2. What are substantive and procedural due processes and how are they used to protect an individual’s Constitutional rights? 3. Explain your state’s policies with regard to quarantine; do you think that it balances the rights of individuals and the needs of public health? Explain. State quarantine and isolation statutes: National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved from http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-quarantine-and-isolation-statutes.aspx Levels of Care Many years ago, long before health care became specialized, when a person required medical attention they went to their local doctor who treated all medical issues from broken bones to childbirth. Some local practitioners even conducted minor surgeries because surgeons at the time were few and far between. Times have surely changed! Technology has advanced tremendously in the medical field. In the United States today there are three distinct levels of care; primary, secondary, and tertiary. Each level of care is specific to the needs of the patient. For example, if an individual has a nasty cold, they most likely will not require secondary or tertiary care, but more than likely would seek the services at the primary care level. Conversely, if an individual had end-stage-renal disease, they surely would not receive dialysis from their primary care physician but instead would seek out the specialized care required from a nephrologist to meet their serious health needs. For this Discussion, define each level of care; primary, secondary and tertiary. Explain the type of care each level provides. Then choose a medical problem and describe the types of treatment that might be provided at each level of care. Try choosing a medical problem that has not been selected by your classmates. How might a patient receive services from all three levels of care for the same health issue? Public Health Agencies It seems that nearly every day we hear or read in the news about something one of the federal public health agencies is doing or announcements they are making. Because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is in the news often, people tend to think the CDC is the lead public health agency in the United States. This is because the CDC has so many roles within the public health system in this country. Despite its many roles, the CDC is not the lead public health agency, but rather an operating division within the United States Department of Health and Human Services, which is the umbrella agency, under which all other federal public health agencies fall. Review Table 12-2: “Key Federal Health Agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services” in your textbook. Select one of these agencies and visit their Website: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Retrieved from http://www.ahrq.gov Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved from http://www.fda.gov Health Resources and Services Administration. Retrieved from http://www.hrsa.gov/index.html Indian Health Services. Retrieved from http://www.ihs.gov National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from http://www.nih.gov Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved from http://www.samhsa.gov Read about the mission, goals, and overall services of the federal public health agency you selected. Answer the following questions: 1. What is/are the core public health functions this agency addresses (assessment, assurance and/or policy development)? 2. Which of the 10 essential public health services is this agency mandated to carry out (note: there are probably several)? How are they carried out? 3. How does this federal health agency work with state and local public health agencies to fulfill its mission and goals in an effort to improve health outcomes? 4. Does this agency work with any global public health agencies or initiatives? If so, how? Eradicating Disease Would it not be great if all communicable diseases could be eradicated shortly after they were discovered? That would really decrease the burden of so many diseases we deal with today, such as HIV/AIDS and influenza. As you learned from the Reading, unfortunately there are many characteristics of every disease that must be studied and analyzed before eradication can be attempted. Furthermore, there are many diseases, just by their very nature, that cannot be eradicated. For this Discussion Board, you will review Table 7-2 in Chapter 7: “Eradication of Human Diseases - What Makes it Possible?” Study the characteristics of diseases that are analyzed by public health researchers, and then select a communicable disease that interests you; choose one that none of your classmates have selected and that has not been used in Table 7-2 (Smallpox, Polio, Measles and HIV/AIDS). There are many diseases for you to choose from. Some examples include Chickenpox, H1N1 Influenza, Pertussis, Mumps, sexually transmitted diseases, mosquito or tick-borne diseases, Tuberculosis, Ebola, and many others; this list of 2016 Nationally Notifiable Infectious Diseases from the CDC may assist in your choice. Once you have selected a communicable disease, do some research to determine the characteristics of the disease you have selected. You can find excellent information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at Fast Stats: Infectious Disease. Once you have researched your selected topic complete the following chart. Then, copy and paste it to the Discussion Board. Below your completed chart, address the following questions about your selection: 1. What is the burden of the disease you have selected (morbidity and mortality)? 2. Based upon your research, can the disease you have selected be eradicated at this time? Why or why not?
