Introduction to Public Healthcare
Individuals who pursue a career in public health are those whose goals are to help enhance the public’s ability to live happy, safely, and healthy lives. This expands beyond just the hospital setting and to just everyday life. A few specific examples of what individuals with public health related jobs would do would be:
Help solve and monitor public outbreaks
Educating the public on health issues and teaching ways one can prevent the spread of a disease
Acting as liaisons between people and networks
Conducting research
Epidemiology
Environmental Science
In general, employment in the public health sector is focused on improving the daily lives of citizens through ways beyond the hospital. They are tasked with addressing issues in the community that would lead to risk of health problems or unfair treatment.
Source: “The Complete Public Health Job Description By Staff Writer.” The Complete Public Health Job Description, www.mphonline.org/public-health-job-description/.
These are a few subservices of the Public Health Industry:
Subfields in Public Healthcare
Health Services Administration
Individuals will be focused on administration, leadership, and management in the healthcare system (which could range from hospitals to public health departments). This is suited for individuals who are interested in exploring different fields within healthcare.
Biostatistics
This field emphasizes the importance of using statistical reasoning and methods to support a finding or a cause. The developments of certain statistical applications would be used to address problems in public healthcare.
Epidemiology
Individuals working in this sector would be studying the patterns of a large population to determine the cause and effects of certain diseases and/or other healthcare concerns. They would then use the information obtained to formulate policies or programs in place.
Health Education/Behavioral Science
Main goal: educate the public about health concerns and provide wellness information.
Environmental Health
The study of the environment. This sector studies how certain actions and/or policies can improve air quality, water quality, waste management, etc (anything that involves environment).
International Health
This is a broader case of public health where it focuses on healthcare problems across the world.
Maternal and Child Health
This focuses on the field of mothers, infants and children and how certain healthcare policies or issues are affecting them.
Nutrition
The promotion of public health by monitoring the nutritional value of food.
Public Health Practice/Program Management
Goal: Provide resources and assistance to prepare public health practitioners to have skills that allow them to pursue leadership positions.
"I've done many different things ranging from developing a surgery room in the mountains of Mexico to helping out foster homes in China."
-- Class of 2018, Student at Harvard Medical School
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