Public Health Systems Public Health

Public Health Systems

Public health is one of the most important issues facing both America and other societies around the world. It has become vitally important to keep the public health system intact in the light of increasing health and insurance costs. An increasing amount of people are turning to the public health system for their health needs, as private health care has simply become unaffordable. Another element is that democracy has necessitated a better level of health care to historically disadvantaged individuals, further necessitating an optimal level of knowledge for public heath workers no only in the field of medicine, but also in languages and culture. Such knowledge not only makes the work easier and smoother, but also provides the public with a sense of trust in its health workers. Finally, another important element is the fact that medicine is a rapidly developing field, particularly by means of technology and media. Public health workers should therefore not only be well taught, but also continuous researchers in the latest techniques for their field of expertise.

Specifically, Sally K. Fauchald (2004) suggests that models of clinical experiences be used for training public health professionals. Such models would bring the workers into close contact with the actual clinical experience rather than just learning about it theoretically. Indeed, theory and practice can then be intermingled from the beginning of preparation for the professional clinical situation. Another fruitful combination the author mentions is partnerships.

Budget constraints within the public health system is a reality. However, Fauchald suggests that this need not mean the end of high quality care in a clinical setup. Instead, she further suggests partnerships among health care agencies and academic institutions. In this way, financial resources can be used towards better clinical equipment and upgrades, whereas students receive a higher quality of practical training within the authentic environment of the clinic. In this, students are then much more thoroughly trained in their various duties as clinicians.

Fauchald further notes that this is not only advantageous for students, but also for the community that they serve. This is particularly so for traditionally disadvantaged communities. The involvement of academic institutions would mean a larger among of revenue in order to provide these communities with the best in health care. This will reduce not only the rate of illness, but also of death in these communities, as better equipment is available and students are better prepared for their workforce duties. Preparation alone is however not enough, and the health worker should ensure that he or she regularly engage in learning opportunities in order to remain the best in their field.