The history and development of the Centers for Disease Control

¶ … governmental agency, CDC, regulates governs health care industry a segment industry. • Describe history agency, source scope authority, structure, carries day -- day responsibilities, effects health care industry a segment industry.

Center for disease control

History of CDC

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has become a household name in the healthcare sectors of most countries across the world. The institution boasts a broad coverage and fame across the world which arises out of the wide scope of its activities and the global presence it cuts. The origin of the institution dates back on 1st July 1946 when the Communicable Disease Control Center was organized in Atlanta, Georgia in the United States. It was basically established as a branch of the Public Health Service by its founder Dr. Joseph Mountil who had high hopes for the then tiny institution. The fundamental objective of CDC at its establishment was to address the growing concern as a result of the frequent malaria outbreaks. Dr. Mountil and most of the employees had several years of experience working for Malaria Control in most parts of the world during World War II.

The growth of the institution gathered speed in the following years as distinguished scientists and other specialists filled its laboratories. Initially the growth of the institution centered on the United States as several states sent their health specialists to be trained in Atlanta. Dr. Mountil's idea was geared toward making CDC a center for all communicable diseases. Basically, much research was carried out on tropical diseases especially those by insect vectors. It must be stressed that the growth of CDC was majorly accelerated through the intense pressure which Dr. Mountil incessantly piled on the employees. At that time, medical epidemiologists were very rare and it was in 1949 when Dr. Alexander Langmuir joined the institution to head the epidemiology unit Pendergrast, 2010, p. 25()

Dr Langmuir viewed the institution as a place full of many possibilities. He subsequently unveiled a very elucidative program that centered on disease-surveillance given that the core concern of CDC-malaria-had since been addressed effectively in the United States. At the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, CDC gained much activity as the Epidemic Intelligence Unit was created to deal with the growing health challenges that were arising as a consequence of the war. The looming threat of the biological warfare across the world at that time created the need for intensive research into that field. Dr. Langmuir was therefore confronted with the task of training epidemiologists who could watch against the threat of germs while also addressing the imperatives of the healthcare industry at that time.

CDC faced several challenges in the 1950s given that the construction of the institution had not yet begun 10 years after Emory University allocated land for the construction. The Public Health Service at that time had much focus on the growth of the National Institute for Health to the extent that whatever was happening in Atlanta meant little to the authorities. However, the major heath crises that occurred in the mid-1950s ensured the survival of the institution as its activities were much supported from all corners. In 1955, poliomyelitis disease was noticed in the children who had recently received the Salk vaccine which had actually been approved. Research by CDC traced the problem to some contaminated vaccines which had originated from a factory in California.

The growth of CDC in the later part of the 1950s was a much supported affair that saw many highly competent college graduates joins the institution. With much funding and support from the federal government, CDC rapidly spread its tentacles across several countries in the world. It thereby became a recognizable name in the health sector across the world with much focus on the prevention of tropical diseases like malaria. Indeed, before the 1950s, the activities of CDC were basically undefined and its location of Atlanta, Georgia was basically a backwater. However, in the 1960s CDC had grown to international standards and Atlanta had been radically transformed into a huge city boasting as the headquarters of a global healthcare institution.

Scope of CDC

Today, the scope of CDC's activities basically transcends healthcare promotion, prevention and preparedness. The institution has remained at the forefront in finding the prevention and control measures of healthcare issues and does much research on diseases, disabilities and the growing concern of environmental health issues. The institution upholds an action-oriented approach in conducting research in relation to healthcare issues and the fundamental need to improve the quality of daily lives across the world.

CDC normally works with states and other partners in several countries in finding control measures for diseases and health surveillance. Much focus is geared towards preventing disease outbreaks and keeping national health statistics. The institution also does much research geared towards addressing bioterrorism and such other emerging concerns across the world. The transmission of diseases across national borders is an issue that has been raising many concerns worldwide. CDC is constantly researching on various aspects of international disease transmission. With activities spanning across 25 countries in the world, it is indeed a research institution that seeks to address many of the healthcare challenges of this age.

On provision of information to the public, CDC uses a system that comprises of very comprehensive public communication programs. The communication normally revolves around some of the most central aspects relating to such issues as HIV, cancer and diabetes. This information is normally useful to international travelers who go to new places and are in need of such information. Given its superiors means of research activities, CDC offers assistance programs in several countries on aspects such as quality assurance and healthcare reform. For instance the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program is an initiative that provides funds and technical support to over fifty countries Centers for Disease Control and Prevention infectious diseases snapshot 2008, 2009()

In the present age, the core commitment and preoccupation of CDC still lies in the prevention and control of infectious diseases with strong emphasis on the total eradication of these diseases. On the same note, the agency has realized the important need to address such environmental hazards like lead poisoning, heart disease and cancer. CDC has also worked hard in the prevention of the spread of HIV since 1981 when the virus was first recognized. In that respect, the agency has instituted various measures in treating and controlling the spread of the disease within the United States. Such measures include a certainty that the nation's blood supply is free from the virus and ensuring measures to prevent the transmission of the disease in health care environments.

The agency provides some of the most credible healthcare information to many policy makes and other parties in need of such information. CDC normally collects and analyses the information and data relating to the causes, effects and prevention measures of certain disease outbreaks. The research findings from its activities are normally some of the most valued information that emanates from the agency.

CDC has realized the imperatives of positive partnerships as a method of addressing healthcare challenges across the world. In this respect, the agency has forged several partnerships with other federal and state agencies that seek to promote the same cause. In the several countries the agency operates in, such partnerships have greatly helped in ensuring the achievement of the objectives while also promoting mutual understanding with the local healthcare agencies. In a way, CDC has since grown from an organization that seeks to combat infectious diseases to a global agency that seeks to address both national and international healthcare concerns. In the same vein, the agency does much research in the emerging health concerns like bioterrorism.

Organizational structure

CDC boasts of a very elaborate organizational structure that spans over 40 countries while employing over 14,000 personnel. The agency comprises Office of the Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and other coordinating centers that facilitate the operations. The leadership of CDC is composed of four basic leadership groups which include the Executive Leadership Board, Center Leadership Council, Management Council, Steering Committee and the Divisional Directors Council.

The activities of the agency are organized into functional units or locations comprising of workers well versed in such segments. Health committees are a common strategy in addressing the various activities of the agency hence the constant alignment of the activities into such important programs. The committees normally draw representation from several support areas both from the employees and their supervisors. While recognizing the need for employee participation in decision making, the agency fosters strong commitment and support of its activities from its employees. In the same vein, the amount of influence the employees command in the agency is normally a function of their authority and expertise in their respective roles. Specialization is therefore a core concern in the management of CDC. In the countries where the employees are unionized, the union members are normally part of the committees that manage the agency.

The success of CDC in its operations is much evidenced in the scale of the agency's activities and the support it draws across the world. The research activities are normally carried out in various research centers located in several countries. Particular research centers deal with particular programs. For instance in Africa, CDC's activities revolve around the control and prevention of tropical diseases like malaria and in reducing the spread of HIV. These activities are normally conducted by various segments of the agency which receive direct funding from the headquarters.

On the total scorecard, it can be stressed that CDC is indeed a global giant in healthcare issues today. The operations of the agency have bolstered the need to institute healthcare reforms in several countries. In the same manner, the continuous research by CDC creates a bank of knowledge and information on hitherto unknown fields in healthcare. However, challenges are normally common occurrences in the activities of CDC. These challenges revolve around various findings from the research activities and aspects relating to the funding of some of these expensive undertakings. Nevertheless, CDC is always at the forefront in addressing its fundamental objectives even amid these challenges.