Local Public Health

Question 1

Lecture Objectives

Answer 1

1) Understand the definition and purpose of a local health department 2) be familiar with characteristics of a typical LHD to included jurisdiction, governance, work force and per capita expenditures 3) be aware of the typical clinical services/programs and typical population services/programs offered by an average LHD 4) be familiar with the purpose, characteristics and major concerns of LBH

Question 2

What is the mission of a state department of health?

Answer 2

protect, promote, and improve the health and prosperity of people in the state; health by preventing problems

Question 3

State department of health responsibilities

Answer 3

screening children, immunizations, prenatal care, safety net care in underserved populations, assuring restaurants/hotels etc meet standards

Question 4

What is a local health department?

Answer 4

an administrative or service unit of local or state government, concerned with health and carrying some responsibility for the health of a jurisdiction smaller than the state

Question 5

Reminder… 3 core functions of public health

Answer 5

policy development, assurance and assessment

Question 6

Local health department roles

Answer 6

track and investigate health problems and hazards in community, emergency preparedness, develop and enforce policies laws and regulations, mobilize communities around important health issues, link people to health services, achieve excellence in public health practice through a trained workforce evaluation and evidence-based programs

Question 7

What does a LHD do in your community?

Answer 7

protects from health threats, education, healthy solutions, advances community health

Question 8

Where is the Shelby County Health department?

Answer 8

814 Jefferson

Question 9

How many local health departments are in TN?

Answer 9

95

Question 10

How many local health departments are in all states?

Answer 10

2,533

Question 11

How many LHDs serve less than 10,000 people and more than 1,000,000 people respectively?

Answer 11

439 and 47

Question 12

What is LHD jurisdiction?

Answer 12

county 68%, town 20%, multi-county 8% and other 4%

Question 13

What is LHD authority?

Answer 13

centralized state governance 16%, locally governed decentralized 77%, shared 27% or mixed

Question 14

What is the LHD authority in TN?

Answer 14

mixed

Question 15

Define local board of health

Answer 15

governing board for public health on the local public health context for their jurisdiction by providing local public health vision, mission and advocacy and by encouraging community involvement in selecting public health priorities

Question 16

Who works in a LHD?

Answer 16

administrative personnel, registered nurses, environmental health workers, public health managers, emergency preparedness staff + specific health careers

Question 17

What is the annual per capita expenditure for a population <25,000 and more than 1,000,000 respectively?

Answer 17

mean $68 and $44

Question 18

LHD programs

Answer 18

infectious disease surveillance, adult and child immunization, TB screening and treatment, environmental health surveillance, food establishment inspection, food safety edu, population based nutrition, daycare inspection

Question 19

Lead poisoning

Answer 19

1 in 22 children in the US have high levels of lead in their blood; can’t smell, taste or see lead; can be in dust, paint, soil, drinking water or food

Question 20

What is a local board of health?

Answer 20

serves as a link between the LHD and community organizations; local elected officials, government agencies, healthcare providers, hospitals, non-profit, faith-based org, community businesses

Question 21

On average how many members are on a local board of health?

Answer 21

7 (range 3-33)