Northeastern University Public Health Workforce Notes

Who are Public Health Workers?

  • Public health workers protect and improve community health.
  • By 2020, an estimated 250,000 new public health workers are needed to prevent vulnerabilities to infectious diseases and disasters.
  • Sources of information:
    • WHO (2006) on Health Workers
    • Teddi Dineley Johnson's article in Nation’s Health (2008) on shortage of U.S. public health workers.

Common Public Health Professions

  • Roles in Public Health include:
    • Community Health Workers: Trained individuals helping local families, often from the communities they serve.
    • Administrative/Clerical Personnel: Handle administrative tasks within public health organizations.
    • Behavioral Health Professionals: Assist patients with mental health or behavioral issues.
    • Emergency Preparedness Staff: Handle disasters; example includes FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).
    • Epidemiologists: Study the distribution of diseases.
    • Environmental Health Workers: Focus on community environmental health issues.
    • Laboratory Workers: Conduct tests that have public health implications (e.g., blood testing for diseases like Zika).
    • Nutritionists: Work with patients on dietary habits, especially concerning chronic illnesses (e.g., diabetes).
    • Public Health Dentists: Ensure community oral health, typically in underserved areas.
    • Public Health Nurses: Focus on overall community health, often in underserved areas.
    • Public Health Physicians: Similar role as nurses, with a medical degree.
    • Public Health Informatics Specialists: Analyze data impacting public health.
    • Public Information Specialists: Communicate public health messages to the community.

Organizations Employing Public Health Workers

  • Notable employers include:
    • Gates Foundation: Invests in global health by improving quality of life through public health initiatives.
    • Partners in Health: Seeks to provide health care access to the poor and establish sustainable health practices in impoverished areas.
    • State and Local Departments of Public Health: Hire local staff who often reside in the communities they serve.

Funding for Public Health Workforce

  • Key funders include:
    • Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA): Focuses on improving health for underserved populations and providing education financing for future public health professionals.
    • Centers for Disease Control (CDC): Provides various health resources and information.
    • National Institutes of Health (NIH): Funds a wide range of biomedical research.
    • Foundations: Such as the Gates Foundation, which funds local and global health initiatives.

HRSA’s Bureau of Health Workforce

  • HRSA's Bureau strengthens the health workforce for underserved communities by:
    • Coordinating programs to increase healthcare providers.
    • Providing educational scholarship and loan repayment programs for health professionals such as:
    • National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program
    • National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program
    • NURSE Corps Scholarship and Loan Repayment Programs
    • Faculty Loan Repayment Program for disadvantaged faculty
    • Scholarship and Loan Programs for health profession schools to support students in need.

Conclusion

  • The public health workforce is essential for protecting community health and addressing health disparities.
  • Significant investments and ongoing educational support are necessary to ensure a sustainable workforce capable of addressing future health challenges.