Public Health Practice through the past decade

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011) identified the following areas (not in any rank order) as the top success stories in public health in the first decade of 21^st century: i) vaccine preventable diseases; ii) prevention and control of infectious diseases; iii) tobacco control; iv) maternal and infant health; v) motor vehicle safety; vi) cardiovascular disease prevention; vii) occupational safety; viii) cancer prevention; ix) childhood lead poisoning prevention; and x) public health preparedness and response. This presentation focuses on the role of technology in achieving several of these successes in the past decade.  The emphasis in this empirical analysis is on addressing the type and role of technology as it relates to primary and secondary prevention efforts.  The barriers as well as facilitators to use of technology at individual and population levels are discussed.  The adaptability of technology to enhance public health practice in other population settings is identified.