Public Health System

What Is the Public Health System?

The public health system represents the complex network of organizations that work towards fulfilling the public health mission of assuring conditions for a healthy population.

Background Information

For background information on the Public Health System see the following  publications and Web sites:

Publications

IOM Future of Public Health
This 1988 groundbreaking publication provided a critical assessment of the public health system and provided recommendations for strengthening the system at the federal, state, and local levels. This book can be accessed at  http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3809/15244.aspx.

In 2002, the Institute of Medicine released a follow-up book to the earlier assessment of the public health system. This book can be accessed at http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3793/4720/4304.aspx.

Trust for America’s Health Blueprint for a Healthier America
This publication outlines steps for reorganizing the current federal system with a focus on prevention and preparedness.See http://healthyamericans.org/report/55/blueprint-for-healthier-america.

Public Health System in the Context of Emergency Preparedness
This March 2005 Congressional Research Service Report provides a detailed description of the Nation’s public health infrastructure. http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/RL31719.pdf

Web Sites

Public Health Systems and Services Research 
This is the primary Web site for information on Public Health Systems and Services Research and is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Information can be accessed at http://www.publichealthsystems.org/.

Public Health Systems Research
This Emory School of Public Health Web site documents activities undertaken under an award from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to advance a field of study in Public Health Systems Research. Information can be found on the 1^st national conference on public health systems research. It can be accessed at www.sph.emory.edu/PHSR/PHF_Archive.

CDC Syndemics
Syndemics has been defined as two or more afflictions, interacting synergistically, contributing to excess burden of disease in a population. This Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website explores syndemics and their implications for public health science and action. Access this site at: http://www.cdc.gov/syndemics/.

 Public Health Functions Steering Committee
The Public Health Functions Project was created to help clarify issues related to the fragility of the public health infrastructure and develop strategies and tools to address the matters identified. Activities of the project were completed in 2000. Information about this project and the committee can be found at http://www.health.gov/phfunctions/public.htm.

New York City’s Commission on the Public's Health System
The Commission on the Public's Health System (CPHS) provides a number of reports and studies on public health issues at http://www.cphsnyc.org/.

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and its partners are building the field of Public Health Systems and Services Research (PHSSR) to answer some of the most important and challenging questions about how best to structure, fund and support our public health system so it can improve the lives of the people it serves. You can access more information at http://www.rwjf.org/publichealth/product.jsp?id=21159.

Announcements

Training Opportunity: Institute on Systems Science and Health, May 3-8, 2009