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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
C. William Keck, MD, MPH, Akron Health Department, 177 South Broadway, Akron, OH 44308, 330-375-2960, keckcw@ci.akron.oh.us
In general, the capacity of local health departments has been generally declining since the mid 1900’s. The Institute of Medicine Report, The Future of Public Health, documented this reality in 1988. In response to the report a great deal has been accomplished relative to describing the mission of public health, clarifying its core functions, re-coupling it with its academic base and determining the competencies required in public health workers for the public to be appropriately served. Little has changed, however, in the organization, structure and financing of local health departments. A wide range of size and capacity continues to characterize the approximately 3,000 local health departments in the USA.
The assaults of September 11, 2001, followed by the subsequent deliberate distribution of anthrax spores through the mail, made it clear that the US population is at risk of direct terrorist attack. Outbreaks of anthrax disease occurred in only a few areas, but created great concern everywhere else. The anthrax events demonstrated the limited capacity of many local health departments to respond to a sustained threat, and caught the attention of lawmakers. Resources now flowing into local health departments will improve basic infrastructure (epidemiology, laboratory, and communication) if well spent.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be able to
Keywords: Public Health Infrastructure, Disasters
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.