9781284197709_PPTX_CH31

Chapter 31: Public Health in the Twenty-First Century

Overview

• Discusses achievements and challenges in public health during the 21st century.

Top Ten Public Health Achievements of the 20th Century

1. Routine Use of Vaccinations

   • Significant reduction in communicable diseases.

2. Improvements in Motor Vehicle Safety

   • Implementation of safety regulations and features.

3. Safer Workplaces

   • Enhanced regulations to protect workers.

4. Control of Infectious Diseases

   • Eradication and management of outbreaks.

5. Decline in Deaths from Heart Disease and Stroke

   • Advances in medical treatment and lifestyle changes.

6. Safer and Healthier Foods

   • Food safety regulations and improved nutrition.

7. Healthier Mothers and Babies

   • Increased prenatal care and maternal health initiatives.

8. Access to Family Planning and Contraceptive Services

   • Empowerment of individuals to manage reproductive health.

9. Fluoridation of Drinking Water

   • Improvement in dental health for communities.

10. Recognition of Tobacco Use as a Health Hazard

    • Public health campaigns and policy changes.

Challenges for the 21st Century

• Renewed Threats from Infectious Diseases

  • Emerging diseases and antibiotic resistance.

• Climate Change

  • Impact on health outcomes and disease patterns.

• Rising Costs of Medical Care for Aging Population

  • Strain on healthcare systems.

• Understanding and Altering Human Behavior

  • Need for effective public health messaging.

• Strengthening Public Health System

  • Enhancing infrastructure and operations.

• Persistent Disparities in Health

  • Addressing inequities among different populations.

Strategic Planning for Public Health

• Decentralized system management through objectives.

• Notable efforts:

  • Healthy People: Reports on health promotion and disease prevention from 1979 to 2020.

  • National goals involve various stakeholders setting objectives.

  • Local communities encouraged to align with national objectives.

  • Importance of data collection for progress measurement.

  • Regular evaluations on achieving health goals.

Integration of Public Health and Medical Practice

• Managed Care Organizations

  • Align incentives closer to public health missions; face popularity decline.

• Affordable Care Act Provisions

  • Introduces free preventive services, reduced costs, increased insurance access.

Role of Information Technology in Public Health

• Enhances communication and data sharing among agencies.

• Facilitates tracking and monitoring of health trends.

  • Tools for outbreak investigations and bioterrorism assessments.

• Public Health Information Network (PHIN) provides health information accessibility.

• Mobile applications promote health behavior monitoring.

Benefits of Electronic Medical Records

• Increased efficiency and quality of healthcare delivery.

• Enhanced care coordination reduces service duplication and medical errors.

• Reduces administrative costs; promotes data sharing across systems.

Challenges of Information Technology

• Balancing privacy with information accessibility.

• Concerns about the reliability of online health information.

• Addressing regulatory issues related to pharmaceuticals and tobacco.

Challenges of Biotechnology

• Human Genome Project

  • Opens avenues for advanced genetic research.

• Ethical and legal considerations for advanced medical technologies.

• Affordability of cutting-edge treatments versus basic healthcare needs.

Ultimate Challenge to Public Health in the 21st Century

• Educate public and policymakers on non-medical health determinants.

• Stimulate national discussions on healthcare spending priorities.

Discussion Questions

1. Decentralization in Public Health

   • Effects on authority and public health practice.

2. Public Health Functions in Managed Care

   • Example functions managed care might perform and those it wouldn’t.

3. Confidential Medical Information

   • Which information should remain confidential and which should be public?

4. Biotechnology and Society

   • Impact of life-extending techniques and Medicare responsibilities.

5. Healthy People 2020 Objectives

   • Analyze selected objectives and their achievability.

6. Internet Health Information

   • Evaluation of resources available through healthfinder.gov.