Public health promotes health, prevents disease, prolongs life and makes it better through the organized efforts of society.
Public health contributes to: improved health of the population, decreased health disparities, decreased burden on primary and acute care, and improved preparedness and capacity for emegencies.
As PH is not directly responsible for unrolling change, it is more of a data collection agency working as a catalyst or change agent, working as the conscience in situations where the right thing to do is not the most popular.
Population health approaches focus on the population, addressing determinants of health and how they interact with each other. Evidence-based decisions should be made whenever possible. It is important to invest in upstream projects which will payoff down the road. We need to collaborate across sectors and levels, as well as facilitate involvement of society, communities, and individuals.
Public health laboratories are critical to public health, providing early detection, identifying causes, and compiling data on infectious diseases.
Core functions include population health assessment, health surveillance, disease and injury prevention, health promotion, and health protection.
need to find role of public health in the environment
This is especially important given the economic costs of chronic disease and the impoact these have onhealth care sustainability.
There's talk of a chronic disease alliance comprised of NGOs;
clean water, restaurant standards, etc
under-recognized, societal impact, underlying factor for other key issues
prevention from the getgo
risk management
Our integrity is also at stake as communities/policymakers expect our ability to respond
communicable disease outbreaks
surveillance
immunization and vaccines
travel health
PANORAMA is an information system
Elaine Holmes is the director of communicable disease prevention and control
soon there is going to be a public health lab that will be announced.
geomatics is the stody of locations of disease
equity
Pandemic planning is moving towards an 'all-hazards' approach, whereby all issues - ie hurricanes, strikes, etc, are considered
In 2006, Nova Scotia published the Moloughney Report reviewing public health here. The review made 21 major recommendations, all of which are inter-dependent and comprehensive in scope of system renewal.
Thoughts on renewal can be found here. How can we keep the system operational while change is happening?
Moving public health online will include training, communication, records, tools, and other things. Geomatics is the study of
We need to identify core leadership able to spark change as we build and enhance partnerships. Systems thinking is required. longer term thinking: we need to get out of the 4 year cycle.
We need shared dialogue across levels of health care and across other sectors in order to develop a common understanding of public health's functions and appearance. Roles and responsibilities should be outlined.
Communication strategies need to be thought out. Build capacity from within community - participatory driven, as we work together to create supportive environments for further change.
Public health is offered by government departments, academia, and NGO's.
Public Health around the globeWHO World Health Report 2002 - Reducing Risks, Promoting Healthy Life |
Public Health in CanadaHealth Canada Environment Canada CFIA Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) FNIHB/FH communities National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) Pan-Canadian Public Health Network
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Public Health in Nova ScotiaDepartment of Health Protection and Promotion HPP is part of Nova Scotia's work to improve public health by directly improving health, supporting capacity building, developing policy, and investing in our workforce. Integration and collaboration are important to them.
DHA Public Health Services
The Medical Officer of Health is at arm's length from the government, giving her the ability to speak up and represent the public good.
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