DAILY HEALTH QUESTION:
(DHQ)
In your “health journal” answer the following
question:
What do you think the term “public health” means?
PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT
T H E P U B L I C H E A LT H SY ST E M
PUBLIC HEALTH LESSON OBJECTIVES:
THE STUDENT WILL (TSW)
–Define the following terms: public health, epidemiology,
epidemic, pandemic, communicable diseases and heart
disease.
–Understand the role of government public health
organizations & identify the role of its agencies.
–Understand & identify private health organizations
–Describe the role of the U.S. Surgeon General &
secretary of HHS
–Identify local public heath laws that guide our
community.
WHAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH?
Includes all efforts to monitor,
protect, and promote the
health of the population as a
whole.
Includes agencies that work to
prevent disease & promote the
general health of the public.
Public health agencies operate
on all levels – local, state,
national, and even worldwide.
What do
they do?
-
Researching health problems
Providing health services
Educating the public
Developing and enforcing policies that promote
health
PUBLIC HEALTH TERMS
Epidemiology:
 the study of diseases in
populations
What are examples of health
problems that might affect an
entire population?
PUBLIC HEALTH TERMS
Epidemic:
Pandemic:
 A widespread amount
of an infectious
disease in a
community at a
particular time.
 A sickness or disease
is out of control
throughout a region
or a country
 Ex – ?
 Ex – Black Death in
Europe 75 million died
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tefAgSl-SWs -Start at 6:30
PUBLIC HEALTH TERMS
Communicable
Diseases:
 An infectious disease
that can be
transmitted from one
individual to another
 Spreads by direct or
indirect contact
Heart Disease:
 #1 cause of death in
the United States
 Includes problems
associated with the
heart and blood
vessels
 An example of a noncommunicable
disease
Throwback question: remember
what causes communicable
diseases? Begins with a P…
A HEALTHY COMMUNITY IS…..
A group of people living together and making
decisions that affect their health, the health of
others, & the environment.
People in their community must know & follow the
public health laws in order to provide for a healthy
community.
LAWS FOR A HEALTHY COMMUNITY
Snow removal
Trash/waste pick-up
Grass cutting
Pet clean-up
Smoke-free restaurants/bars
ACTIVITY:
One a piece of paper (or in your notes) make the
following diagram:
Health
Care
Profession
als
Health
Agencies
Health
Care
System
Health
Insurance
Health
Care
Facilities
In your textbook read pages 792-799. While reading
add details to each topic. This will be checked for
a grade.
LESSON TWO: PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCIES
BUT FIRST…
DHQ: GIVE AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT A PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY
MIGHT DO.
Public health agencies operate on all levels – local,
state, national, and even worldwide.
They work to make communities healthy by:
 Researching health problems
 Providing health services
 Educating the public
 Developing and enforcing policies that promote
health
Government Public Health
Local
State
National
International
Montgomery
County
Pennsylvania
Department of Heath
& Human Services (HHS)
World Health
Organization
(WHO)
Government
agency
responsible
by law for the
health & wellbeing of people
in your
community,
city, county,
or township.
Government
agency
responsible by
law for the
health & wellbeing of people
in your state.
Federal government is
responsible for the
administration & planning
of health in our country.
Divided into 4 offices:
1. Health care financing
2. Public Health Services
3. Office of Human Dev.
4. Social Security Admin.
To
improve the
health & wellbeing throughout
the world.
Located in
Geneva,
Switzerland.
GOVERNMENT WEBSITES…
Local –
 Montgomery County
 http://www.montcopa.org/index.aspx?nid=513
State – PA Department of Health:
http://www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/site/default.asp
Federal –
 Department of Health & Human Services (HHS): http://www.hhs.gov/
International –
 World Health Organization (WHO): http://www.who.int/en/
 EX: http://www.who.int/topics/alcohol_drinking/en/
US DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
(HHS)
“US government’s principal agency for protecting the
health of all Americans and providing essential human
services, especially for those who are least able to
help themselves.”
Includes 10 agencies that promote public health in
various ways.
The agencies in HHS oversee more than 300 healthrelated programs.
HHS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Health Care Insurance
Public Health Programs
Education and Training Opportunities
Social Service Programs
Research
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AGENCIES EXAMPLES
1. National Institute of Health (NIH) – conducts and
funds medical research
2. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – ensures the
safety of foods, cosmetics & medicines
3. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) –
works to track, prevent, and control outbreaks of
disease
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS:
HHS SECRETARY SYLVIA MATHEWS BURWELL
Appointed by the President of
the USA (June 2014)
Goal is to improve America’s
health & enhance the
delivery of human services
Oversees more than 77,000
employees
HHS - U.S. SURGEON GENERAL
VICE ADMIRAL VIVEK MURTHY
Director of the U.S. public health services
Physician appointed by the U.S. President
Provides the public with the best scientific
information available on how to improve
their health and the health of the nation
Oversees the operational command of 6,500
uniformed public health officers who
serve in locations around the world to
promote and protect the health of the
American people
PUBLIC HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS
Public Health organizations
can be:
 Voluntary
 (American Red Cross)
 Private
 ( Blue Cross / Blue Shield Health
Insurance Company)
 Professional
 (AMA – American Medical Association)
 Corporate
 (Merck)
PRIVATE HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS
Organizations, Foundations, Associations, etc.
that are not government regulated:
Funded by (some are non-profit):
Donations
Partnerships
Volunteers (Free Labor)
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF PUBLIC HEALTH
6:00 am - Your alarm clock rings and you roll out of bed. You
turn the faucet to brush your teeth and fluoride-enriched
water flows out.
6:30 am - Before you leave the house, you have a balanced,
nutritious breakfast. The bagels, cereal, fruit, milk, and
coffee you prepare have all been inspected and approved
as ready for human consumption.
6:45 am - You get in the car for your commute to school and
buckle your seatbelt. As you are driving, you can be assured
that public health experts have conducted research that
have led to improved traffic safety laws.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF PUBLIC HEALTH
7:20am - Your school day has begun. The air filters provide the
school with clean air. Public health experts researched the
effects of proper posture on chronic musculoskeletal
injuries and developed your desk chair. The overhead lights
have been designed to provide just the right amount of
light to keep you awake during school.
11:00am – You have PE class. The CDC encourages
teens/adults to get at least 30 minutes of activity per day.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF PUBLIC HEALTH
6:00pm You meet friends at Applebee’s for dinner. You open the
restaurant door and, before being seated, you catch a glimpse of
the city or county certificate of approval. The certificate signifies
your chosen restaurant serves clean food.
9:00pm - Before falling asleep, you decide to watch some television.
The evening newscaster mentions the latest study into the
effects of smoking on lung cancer and another study about the
latest data released for a new cancer drug. The FDA announced
approval of a new medication to treat asthma and public health
experts are handling possible disease transmission after a
recent hurricane hits the southern States. A commercial explains
the latest food guide. THIS IS PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLIC HEALTH DISCUSSION
Stand up, get ready to move:
When I say stop, you are to discuss the follow question with the people
around you:
What are some professions in public health?
What public health topics do you think are most important today?
WORKSHEET