Population Health: The Role of Health Departments
Today, public health departments across the country are struggling to respond to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, as well as a host of other health-related issues such as heart disease and obesity that affect large numbers of Americans (Harris et al., 2022). The purpose of this paper is to provide a discussion concerning the role of health departments for patient care and community safety. In addition, a discussion concerning how health departments and primary care providers collaborate for patient care is followed by a summary of the research and important findings about these issues in the conclusion.
The role of health departments for patient care and community safety
As the principal coordinating organization within a municipal jurisdiction, public health departments play a critical role in the coordination of patient care (Leider et al., 2015). This role has assumed new importance and relevance in recent years as the legal...
For instance, according to Leider and her associates (2015), The Affordable Care Act is changing the landscape of health systems across the U.S., as well as the functioning of governmental public health departments. As a result, local health departments are reevaluating their roles, objectives, and the services they provide (p. S66).
While the challenges that have been involved in implementing, coordinating and administering the Affordable Care Act have been significant, the vast majority of health department leaders believe that its provisions will have a positive impact on public health and community safety in the United States at present and in the future (Leider et al., 2015). In...
…primary care providers (Hearld et al., 2021).
Conclusion
The importance of public health departments in the United States has increased over the years, but its role has expanded and assumed even greater relevance in recent years as the Covid-19 pandemic washes across the country time and again while Americans also struggle with a wide array of other public health issues. In addition, the research was consistent in showing that public health departments play a critical role in protecting and improving patient care and community safety as well as coordinating their services with primary care providers. In the final analysis, it is reasonable to conclude that the importance of the role played by health departments in the future will continue to expand, especially given the increasing diversity of the American population as well as its rapidly aging…
