This is Public Health

Transcription

1 SDPHA is the only trade association in South Dakota for public health professionals and has long been an outspoken voice on issues affecting the health of South Dakotans. SDPHA has supported mandatory seat belt usage, restricting smoking in public places, prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors and provided or encouraged age appropriate immunizations of children. Included on our website are SDPHA s current policy statements on various health issues affecting our state. This is Public Health SDPHA s main goals: 1. To promote interest in public health throughout South Dakota. 2. To develop, extend and coordinate public health activities. 3. To aid in developing legislation for the improvement of public health. This is accomplished through 4 major activities: 1. Providing educational opportunities for public health occupations. 2. Increasing community awareness of public health issues. 3. Initiating and supporting needed legislative action on specific health concerns. 4. Enhancing the organization, financing, coordination and delivery of public health services to South Dakotans. Post Office Box 126 Pierre, SD Office: Fax: Toll Free:

2 What is Public Health? Public health is the art and science of protecting and improving the health of communities through education, healthy lifestyle promotion, provision of needed services along with disease and injury prevention. Essentially, public health is what we do as a society to ensure that people are healthy. The overall priority of public health is to protect the health of the population through prevention while medicine focuses on individual health through treatment. Experts Public Health Population Health Prevention and Health Promotion Clinical Health Individual Disease Diagnosis and Treatment have stated that money spent on disease prevention gives a better return-on-investment than the higher costs of medical procedures for treatment of disease. Public health professionals concentrate on enhancing health through well-planned community efforts, created by following the Core Functions: need assessment of health status, policy development and guarantee of public health services. These Core Functions must be included into the Essential Public Health Services (EPHS). These services support and encourage scientific practice and partnerships which build stronger foundations for public health programming. Essential Public Health Functions, the foundation for public health activities, policies and practices are applied to all chronic disease conditions. These functions are to: 1. Monitor health status 6. Enforce laws and regulations 2. Diagnose and investigate health problems 7. Link people to needed health services 3. Inform, educate and empower people 8. Assure a competent workforce 4. Mobilize communities to address health problems 9. Evaluate health services 5. Develop policies and plans 10. Conduct research for new innovations

3 When did Public Health Begin? Public health encompasses a population-based, organized effort to help groups and individuals reduce health risks and maintain or improve health status. Many achievements in reducing morbidity and mortality can be traced directly to public health initiatives previously established or implemented including: a. vaccines b. improvements in sanitation and hygiene c. food safety d. decline in coronary heart disease/stroke e. workplace safety improvements f. fluoridation for oral health g. decrease in motor vehicle deaths Our population has improved dramatically during the modern era because of public health efforts. And, without a certain level of health, people find it difficult to participate in many aspects of life, including family and community life, gainful employment, and participation in civic responsibilities. As we move forward, it is important to not only celebrate the achievements of the past but also to identify the new challenges to public health; including globalization, scientific and technological advances and demographics. EVENT: The first modern inoculation introduced into the western culture. Lady Montagu brings to England the Turkish practice of inoculating with small amounts of live smallpox EVENT: The first bioterrorism act on record and similar to modern day anthrax attacks. Captain Ecuyer of the Royal Americans, under the guise of friendship, presents the Native Americans two blankets and a handkerchief contaminated with smallpox. EVENT: An epidemic of yellow fever in Philadelphia kills about 10% of the population. Leads to the development of the first Board of Public Health in Massachusetts. Paul Revere is appointed Chairman in EVENT: Cholera epidemic and massive reforms in sanitation. Englishman, John Snow, shows that prohibiting use of a well contaminated with sewage reduces incidence of cholera. His work led to major public health policies in clean drinking water. EVENT: Founding of the American Public Health Association (APHA). SDPHA is a state affiliate of APHA; the largest and oldest unified public health body seeking to promote the health of every individual in all communities EVENTS: First Manual of Public Health Laws in the U.S. compiled. Also in this year, mandatory reporting of dangerous diseases enacted. EVENT: Influenza epidemic of 1918 from H1N1. Gave epidemiology more footing as a public health discipline. Furthermore, it increased public awareness about illnesses with pandemic potential and promoted the idea of mass immunization EVENT: The first polio vaccine was developed by Jonas Salk and was an inactivated (dead) poliovirus. An oral vaccine was developed by Albert Sabin using an attenuated poliovirus. The worldwide incidence has reduced from 350,000 cases in 1988 to 1652 cases in EVENT: Surgeon General s report on smoking. This was a significant milestone in public health as it was the first official recognition of the association between cigarette smoking and cancer. Made way for future public health attention EVENT: AIDS is first categorized as disease through transmittal of HIV. Not recognized or described as a disease until 1981, when the first cases of what would eventually become known as AIDS were reported to the Center for Disease Control. EVENT: Nutrition Labeling and Education Act passes Congress requiring all packaged foods to have nutritional labeling. First standards defined by USHHS, focused on nutrients in an effort to reduce the public s risk of heart disease cancer, diabetes and obesity EVENT: Novel H1N1 Pandemic begins in April 2009 and continues its spread globally through EVENT: Anthrax mailing to Sen. Tom Daschle. First time that anthrax (biological organism) was used for bioterrorism in the U.S. as weapon of destruction. Beginning of National Defense Management System and Office of Homeland Security.

4 Who is Public Health? People who work as professionals in public health have received education and training in a wide range of disciplines; including medicine, nursing, dentistry, social work, pharmacy, public administration, veterinary, medicine, engineering, environmental sciences, biology, law and microbiology. A public health professional is a person educated in public health or a related discipline who is employed to improve health through a community or a population (not individual) centered focus. With changes in healthcare looming for the U.S., along with more emphasis being placed on prevention, it is crucial that we invest in these professionals and the profession, especially with the workforce shortage upon us. The extent to which we are able to make improvements in the health of the public depends, in large part, upon the quality and preparedness of the public health workforce, which relies upon the quality and relevance of its education. The essential component of the public health workforce is a diverse, dedicated and caring health professional.

5 Public Health in South Dakota Organizational and community collaborations are enhanced by the network of partners within state and local public health systems. This provides more cohesion, better coordination of resources, and less duplication of services. With more awareness, the interconnectedness of programs will lead to a higher appreciation and awareness of the programs designed to improve the public s health. In the future, these partnerships need to identify strengths and weaknesses, address quality improvement and most importantly, provide a benchmark for public health practices, or a gold standard to which public health systems can aspire. In South Dakota, as in many other rural states, the presence or access to services is not as widespread as in developed urban areas. Public health professionals in our state understand the setbacks but we are also aware that the organizations involved in the health of South Dakotans need to partner more aggressively and share resources to advance health. Most experts agree that improvement in health over the following decades will not come from new medical findings or cures, but rather the broader development and application of population-based prevention programs, through the rapid changing health delivery systems. Greater emphasis is being placed on health promotion and disease prevention as a means to reduce the costs of care by improving the health of our population.

6 South Dakota Public Health Association Membership Form The current public health workforce is inadequate to meet the health needs of the U.S. and global population and declining worker shortages will reach crisis proportions in the coming years. By 2020, the nation will be facing a shortfall, over 250,000 public health workers, according to the Association of Schools of Public Health (ASPH) estimates. Shortages of public health physicians, public health nurses, epidemiologists, health care educators and administrators are anticipated. Over the next 11 years, schools of public health would have to train three times the current number of graduates to meet projected needs. This is a difficult feat with the current amount of accredited schools in the country. Currently, in South Dakota, we do not have a School of Public Health. Nonetheless, it is the perfect time to advance the idea and garner support for this program; which will assist South Dakota students interested in community health, or as a minor study to medicine, nursing or dentistry students. Along with new students, working professionals can increase their competencies and skills in public health. In the future, we must look to the past to be successful. Public Health must align with its partners, lend our knowledge and create progressive change through healthier lives and communities. Name: Business: Title: Credentials: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Address: Date Signed: Phone: APHA Member: Yes No Type of Individual Membership: Yearly Membership Rates Individual: $35.00, any person with an active interest in public health. Individual and Student: $50.00, any individual who would like to become a member along with supporting a student with a free membership to become more involved in public health. Student: $15.00, any student with an awareness and appreciation for public health. Sustaining: $100.00, any individual providing additional support to SDPHA. Willingness to Serve: I am interested in the following committees Communications and Publications Awards Program Membership Public Affairs Audit Leadership Development (Nominating) None at this time Leadership: I am interested in serving as an officer of the SDPHA President (begin 07/10) Treasurer (begin 07/11) Vice President (begin 07/11) Member-at-Large (2 spots opening 07/11) Secretary (begin 07/11) None at this time The Future of Public Health! Become a member of the South Dakota Public Association as a supporter of public health. Even if you are not a public or allied health professional but have an interest in healthy families and communities, join us! If you would like to assist the Association in its mission to promote and protect the health of South Dakotans, send in membership form with payment or download online at