Public Health Infrastructure
After reviewing the infrastructure of the United States Public Health System, assume you have been tasked with improving it. Make two recommendations for improving the infrastructure of the current system. REMEMBER, your suggestions are for the PH system, NOT for the medical system.
Sample Answer
Public Health Infrastructure
The public health system comprises a chain of health centers and hospitals run by the government to promote the health of people and their communities. However, there should be an adequate public health infrastructure for the public healthcare system to function effectively. It helps to provide the necessary foundation for understanding the primary responsibilities of public health (Healthy People.gov, 2021).
There are various ways to improve the infrastructure of the current US public health system. One of them includes incorporating advanced modern data and information systems in the public health system. Technology keeps on improving each and every day. For instance, telehealth is becoming more critical in the current public health care system. It helps address various public health issues such as the shortages of healthcare providers in rural areas (Crilly & Kayyali, 2020). Telehealth has helped manage the issue of shortage of healthcare workers in rural settings Healthcare technology allows a few healthcare professionals to provide care to many people across multiple locations (Crilly & Kayyali, 2020). However, the application of healthcare information technology in the US public health system has been faced with multiple issues. For example, information sharing between healthcare and public health does not happen automatically, undermining the efficient flow of information (Crilly & Kayyali, 2020). Thus, such problems need to be addressed to enhance the public health infrastructure.
Also, the public health workforce is experiencing various challenges, including the shortage of public health workers, limiting them from meeting the increasing demand for care from the community members (Bauchner & Sharfstein, 2020). Also, they are experiencing significant changes in healthcare technology which requires them to improve their IT skills regularly. Therefore, these issues need to be addressed to enhance the public health infrastructure. Some of the measures that can improve the public health workforce include investing more in education to increase the number of health care professional graduates and providing regular training to enhance their skills.
The US public health infrastructure helps to provide the necessary foundation for delivering public health. The public health infrastructure can be improved using various strategies. One of them includes incorporating the advanced modern data and information systems in the public health system and improving the public health workforce.
References
- Bauchner, H., & Sharfstein, J. (2020). A bold response to the COVID-19 pandemic: medical students, national service, and public health. Jama, 323(18), 1790-1791. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2764427
- Crilly, P., & Kayyali, R. (2020). A systematic review of randomized controlled trials of telehealth and digital technology use by community pharmacists to improve public health. Pharmacy, 8(3), 137. https://www.mdpi.com/788990
- Healthy People.gov (2021). Public Health Infrastructure. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/public-health-infrastructure#:~:text=Inform%2C%20educate%2C%20and%20empower%20people,protect%20health%20and%20ensure%20safety.
