CH ER 25 Public Health System: Structure and Function Office of Public Health and Science(OPHS) USPHS Office of disease Administrators Corps Office Division 兰 Medical HIVAIDS Office of Office of Office Physical Fitness Figure 25-3 u.S. Offce of Public Health and Science(OPHS)organizational structure. HIV/AIDS, Human immunodeficiency virus and acquired Each state has a health department to perform or overse the performance of the 10 essential public health services Governmental Public Health The state health department oversees the implementation of Infrastructure: The I0 Essential Publi the public health code, a compilation of the state laws and Ith Services regarding public health and safe ules passed by a legislature. In contrast, regulations are technical rules added later by an empowered body with spe- 1. Monitor health status to identify community health cific expertise, such as a state or local board of health. In some states, responsibility for mental health services falls to 2. Diagnose and investigate health problems and health the health department, whereas other states have separate departments of mental health services. Every state also licenses medical and other health-related practitioners and Public Development medical care institutions, such as hospitals, nursing homes 3. Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues. nd home care programs. 4. Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve health problems ans t C. Responsibilities of Municipalities ommunity health efforts and counties Assurance 6. Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure Although the states hold the fundamental police power to protect health, they delegate much of this authority to cha 7. Link people to needed personal health services, and assure tered municipalities, such as cities, or other incorporated the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable. areas. These municipalities accept public health responsibili- 8. Ensure a competent public health and personal health care ties in return for a considerable degree of independence from the state in running their affairs, including property 9. Evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal ownership and tax levies. In this respect, they differ from and population-based health services counties(called parishes"in Louisiana). Counties Serving All Functions bureaucratic subdivisions of the state created to administer 10. Research for new insights, and innovate solutions to ilities(with rying degrees of local cor health problems uch as health services, as well as courts of law, educational programs, highway construction and maintenance, and Modified from Public Health Functions Steering Committee, 1994; police and fire protection American Public health Association. Association of Schools of the Local public health departments usually are administra Public Health Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, tive divisions of municipalities or counties, and their policies Environmental Council of the States, National Association of are established by a city or county board of health. These County and City Health Officials, National Association of State boards of health have the right to establish public health laws Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors, National Association of State and regulations, provided that they are at least as strict as ental Health Program Directors, Public Health Foundation, US similar laws and regulations in the state public health code, Public Health Service. and provided that they are reasonable. Anything that is too