What Are the Essential Functions of Public Health and How Do They Function?
Public health is the profession that strives to promote and improve the wellbeing of individuals and communities. Functions of Public Health specialists specialists are responsible for researching diseases and responding to epidemics. Additionally, they develop health programs, educate people about proper healthcare practices, and increase access to services. Ultimately, Public health can protect individuals, communities, as well as entire populations.
Essential public health functions (EPHFs) are fundamental for reaching public health objectives worldwide. These EPHFs form the core functions of public health that guide all professionals working in this area worldwide – these are truly globalized public health!
- Assessment
- Policy development
- Assurance
These functions come together to restore and enhance public health through collective action. Experts believe that the goals of public health should include:
- Reduce the spread of disease and prevent future outbreaks
- Protect yourself against threats and environmental hazards
- Encourage healthy habits and proactive measures
- Aid communities in recovering from disasters by responding appropriately
- Guarantee access and quality in healthcare services.
We will examine the three primary healthcare systems and their consequences for both current and future public health professionals.
Three Functions of Public Health: Illustrated
1) Assessment
Assessment is the process of gathering and analyzing information about health problems. Public health professionals are accountable for researching conditions and potential risks, as well as identifying resources that can prevent or treat disease. With assessment they may even be able to detect trends in death rates, injury rates, or disease causes – services considered core functions by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To recognize and resolve health issues, monitor your environment and general wellbeing.
Investigate environmental health hazards as well as potential hazards within local communities to detect them quickly.
2) Policy Development
Policy development begins with the information collected by those responsible for public health assessment. This process includes sharing, consulting, citizen participation and decision-making on public health measures. Stakeholders in this area evaluate available data about programs and threats to determine which interventions or policy decisions will be most beneficial to the population at large. As stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), primary functions of public health policy developers include:
Promote environmental health awareness, educate people on its implications, inform them of initiatives to address it, mobilize community partnerships for solutions and initiatives related to this area, and create policies to support efforts at both the community and individual level.
3) Assurance
A third function of public health is assurance. This involves advocating for the protection and preservation of communities. Public health assurance works to make health services accessible and high-quality for all members of a given community. Furthermore, assurance includes promoting public health through targeted programs, campaigns and other strategies in order to guarantee health and wellbeing across all populations; these services should:
- Protect the environment and guarantee safety by adhering to policies.
- Connect people to the healthcare services they require and guarantee those services are available when needed.
- Communities can rely on us to ensure a qualified workforce in environmental health.
Assess the efficacy, accessibility, quality and affordability of health services while finding innovative solutions through research and development.
Why Are Public Health’s Core Functions Essential?
These three functions are fundamental to public health because they form the basis of all professions within this sector. Public health professionals strive to promote, protect, restore and enhance people’s wellbeing. These core duties form the cornerstone of public health – they outline what needs to be done to reach these objectives.
- Assessment of Health and Potential Threats to Communities
- Develop Policies that Safeguard Individuals’ and Communities’ Health
- Guarantee Safety & Wellness for both Communities and Individuals
- Consider the three core functions of public healthcare as you begin your career. Are you interested in:
- Research and assess natural disasters, disease outbreaks and health threats?
- To protect communities, develop policies and programs at a higher level.
- You can collaborate with communities to educate them about health or provide care access.
Additional Resources:
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health
