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PubMedDate not supplied

Transforming the public health information infrastructure.

The public health information infrastructure is undergoing a transformation that is enabled by changes in health care informatics. The implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, the patient medical record information standards, and National Health Information Infrastructure (NHII) recommendations by the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics provide the basis for improved data reporting to public health agencies. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services should provide leadership and resources for this transformation. Newly available federal resources will have the greatest effect on improving the information infrastructure if there is a strong commitment to developing and implementing public health data standards that build upon the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System.

Communicable Disease Control↗
PubMed2002

Public health infrastructure and equity in the utilization of outpatient health care services in Peru.

This article analyzes the magnitude and nature of socioeconomic differences in the utilization of outpatient health care services in Peru. In particular, it explores the potential equity-enhancing effect of the expansion and improvements in the network of health centres during the 1990s. The Peruvian health reform made relatively little progress in terms of the reform agenda promoted internationally during the 1990s. Nevertheless, the expansion of the public network of health centres and the improvements in their equipment has been noteworthy during the same period. Using the 1997 survey of the Peruvian Living Standards Measurement Study (PLSMS), we find large differences in the utilization of outpatient health care services. The richest to poorest quintile ratio is 1.9, and even larger in rural areas. Estimating a probit model with random effects at the district level to control for the systematic geographic bias associated with the optimal public allocation of such infrastructure, we find the income effect to be very large, even after controlling for other socioeconomic characteristics. Finally, we also find that the expansion of the public network of health centres has indeed an equity-enhancing effect, but this is rather small. These results indicate that although the expansion of the public network of health facilities may be necessary, it is not sufficient to promote equity in the utilization of health care services by Peruvian adults, especially in rural areas. It is important to look deeper into the costs of consultations and drugs as economic barriers to the utilization of health services by the poor. In particular, the expansion of health insurance mechanisms for the poor should be carefully monitored and evaluated.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed2003

['Knowledge Infrastructure for Public Health': an advisory report from the Advisory Council on Health Research].

Social, scientific and technological developments are forcing health care systems to shift the focus from disease to health and from cure to prevention. The Advisory Council on Health Research (RGO) has published an advisory report about the knowledge infrastructure serving the needs of public health in the Netherlands. The Council's concept of public health also includes aspects such as policy and health management. The Council concludes that more research is needed on the following determinants of health: environmental issues, social factors, unhealthy behaviour and genetic factors. Intervention research must focus on health protection, health promotion and disease prevention. The public health infrastructure can be improved by amalgamating research groups, establishing departments of public health at every academic medical centre, and linking service, education and research.

Health Promotion↗
PubMed2006

Universal influenza vaccination in the United States: are we ready? Report of a meeting.

Universal influenza vaccination has been proposed as one strategy to improve vaccination coverage and disease prevention. In October 2005, influenza and vaccination experts, public health practitioners, representatives from medical professional societies, influenza vaccine manufacturers, and managed care organizations met to assess whether current data were sufficient to support an expansion of universal influenza vaccination and to define information gaps and potential barriers to implementation. Presenters at the meeting documented the substantial burden of influenza disease among all age groups, the major role of children in transmission, and the effectiveness of vaccine, especially in healthy children and adults. Observational studies and a mathematical model suggested that indirect protection, or "herd immunity," resulting from vaccination of school-age children would substantially reduce the incidence of disease in other age groups. Economic analyses generally showed that vaccination of healthy children and adults is cost-effective and is sensitive to vaccine cost, population group, and season. Influenza vaccination received annually over several years is safe and effective, but data on long-term use are limited. Challenges to expanded recommendations include maintenance of the vaccine supply, implementation of a feasible and effective strategy for vaccine delivery, the burden on the public health infrastructure, public acceptability, and financing. Overall, meeting attendees favored incremental expansion of recommendations, potentially toward universal influenza vaccination. They preferred to expand recommendations among children first, because children have a higher risk of illness, compared with healthy adults; because there is greater feasibility of implementation of the recommendations among children; and because of the potential for herd immunity decreasing morbidity and mortality among adults.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Improving childhood asthma outcomes in the United States: a blueprint for policy action.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Asthma is increasingly being recognized as an important public health concern for children in the United States. Effective management of childhood asthma may require not only improving guideline-based therapeutic interventions, but also addressing social and physical environmental risk factors. The objective of this project was to create a blueprint for improvement of national policy in this area. DESIGN/METHODS: A nominal group process with nationally recognized experts and leaders (referred to as "the committee") in childhood asthma. RESULTS: The committee identified 11 policy recommendations (numbered in order below) in 2 broad categories: Improving Health Care Delivery and Financing, and Strengthening the Public Health Infrastructure. Recommendations regarding Improving Health Care Delivery and Financing include the development and implementation of quality-of-care standards in 1) primary care, 2) self-management education, and 3) case-management interventions, and the expansion of insurance coverage and benefit design by 4) extending continuous health insurance coverage for all children, 5) developing model insurance benefits packages for essential childhood asthma services, and 6) educating health care purchasers in how to use them. Recommendations for Strengthening the Public Health Infrastructure include public funding of asthma services that fall outside the insurance system through establishing 7) public health grants to foster asthma-friendly communities and 8) school-based asthma initiatives. 9) Launching a national asthma public education campaign, 10) developing a national asthma surveillance system, and 11) establishing a national agenda for asthma prevention research, with an emphasis on epidemiologic and behavioral sciences, are also recommended. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing these recommendations will require coordination of activities at the national, state, and local community level, and within and outside the health care delivery system. With a further commitment of national and local resources, implementation of these recommendations will likely lead to improved child and family asthma outcomes in the United States. childhood asthma, health care policy, health care services.

Advisory Committees↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The public health enterprise: examining our twenty-first-century policy challenges.

This paper examines the public health enterprise and its policy challenges in the twenty-first century. Among the many challenges public health faces, we include here collaboration across a broad range of stakeholders, the public health infrastructure, agreement on public health's essential services, preparedness, accountability and measurement, workforce, and a research agenda. Two Institute of Medicine reports on the future of public health have set the context for a more in-depth review of the public health workforce and infrastructure. Policy advocates must ask, however, why, if the way and the means are so clear, the public health system is still in disarray.

Community Health Planning↗