Public Health
What is Public Health?
Public Health promotes and protects the health of people and the communities where they live, work, learn, and play. While a doctor treats people who are sick, we try to prevent people from getting sick or injured in the first place. We also promote wellness by encouraging healthy behaviors.
Essential Public Health Services
The 10 Essential Public Health Services provide a framework for public health to protect and promote the health of all people in all communities. To achieve optimal health for all, the Essential Public Health Services actively promote policies, systems, and services that enable good health and seek to remove obstacles and systemic and structural barriers, such as poverty, racism, gender discrimination, and other forms of oppression, that have resulted in health inequities. Everyone should have a fair and just opportunity to achieve good health and well-being.
Assessment
- Assess and monitor population health.
- Investigate, diagnose, and address health hazards and root causes.
Policy Development
- Communicate effectively to inform and educate.
- Strengthen, support, and mobilize communities and partnerships.
- Create, champion, and implement policies, plans, and laws.
- Utilize legal and regulatory actions.
Assurance
- Enable equitable access.
- Build a diverse and skilled workforce.
- Improve and innovate through evaluation, research, and quality improvement.
- Build and maintain a strong organizational infrastructure for public health.
