Public Health

The science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organization, public and private, communities and individuals. The dimensions of health can encompass “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” as defined by the United Nations’ World Health Organization. Public Health incorporates the interdisciplinary approaches of epidemiology, biostatistics, and health services. Other important subfields are environmental health, community health, behavioral health and occupational health.

The main focus of a public health intervention is to prevent and manage diseases and injuries and other health conditions through the surveillance of cases and the promotion of healthy behaviors, communities and environments. Most countries have their own government public health agencies, also known as ministries of health that respond to domestic health issues. In the United States, the front line in public health initiatives are state and local health departments. The United States Public Health Services is led by the Surgeon general of the United States and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which are involved with several International health activities. In addition, to their national duties.

The CDC Public Health Information Network is a national initiative to improve the capacity of public health to use and exchange information electronically by promoting the use of standards and defining functional and technical requirements. The CDC’s role in the Public Health Information Network is: supporting the exchange of critical health information between all levels of public health and healthcare. Developing and promulgating requirements, standards, specifications and an overall architecture in a collaborative, transparent and dynamic way. Monitoring the capacity of state and local health departments to exchange...