Pennsylvania Department of Health
Organization URL(s)
webmaster@health.state.pa.uswww.health.state.pa.us/
Other Contact Information
P.O. Box 90
Harrisburg,
PA 17108
877-PA-HEALTH (Voice - Toll-free, 724-3258)
717-787-1783 (Voice)
Description
The Pennsylvania Department of Health's mission is identified through its slogan "....in pursuit of good health," and all its activities are defined by its functions: health needs assessment, resource development, assuring access to health care, promoting health and disease prevention, assuring quality, and providing leadership in the area of health planning and policy development. The department is responsible for planning and coordinating health resources throughout the Commonwealth. It licenses and regulates a variety of health facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgical facilities and other in-patient and out-patient facilities. In addition, the Department supports outreach, education, prevention and treatment services across a variety of program areas. Grants and subsidies to community-based groups are used to provide essential services to the Commonwealth's citizens including programs for women and children, nutrition, immunization, diagnosis and treatment of certain blood and communicable diseases, cancer control and prevention and the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
Print Resources
The Department publishes a large number of health promotion materials on such topics as venereal disease prevention, childhood immunization programs, nutrition and diet, high blood pressure detection and control, and physical fitness.