Community Medicine and Public Health

In 1920, an article in the American Journal of Public Health stated “Only the rich and the poor get adequate medical attention today; the middle class are, to a large extent, less fortunate. In this the medical organization of the country has failed to accomplish its purpose.” Nearly 100 years later the United States remains the richest country in the world with poor health outcomes.  The reason the U.S. is the only one of 59 countries without National Health Insurance is purely political.  In the year of the development of this Community Medicine and Public Health course, Congress continues to argue the benefits and costs of providing health care to all Americans.  Without coverage there is either no care, or care that is based on emergency room visits treating disease rather than promoting wellness.

Please review the article:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1362718/pdf/amjphealth00202-0001a.pdf

What is the difference between Community Medicine And Public Health?

Community medicine, the delivery of health services to the individual and family and Public health have vastly different missions. The mission of Public Health includes the delivery of community medicine services; surveillance of diseases; environmental protection; epidemiology; public education and information services, as well as immunization programs.

The relationship of Public health and medicine as partners in health care have historically included barriers of organization, operation, and financing. Although public health and medicine has a long history of division, collaboration is happening more often, particularly in light of the national health care insurance debate.

Consider the historical perspectives of medicine and public health including the early contributions to public health such as treatment of illness, dating back to ancient times. Nineteenth and early twentieth century advances in health involved food safety, sanitation, and family planning. Late 20th century advances shifted to medical interventions and technology. Prevention, rather than treatment, was slow to be accepted and prioritized by the medical community. Progress against infectious disease and the shift of chronic diseases as leading risks and killers, led to improved relationships between community medicine and public health.

Explore the growth of medical care resources and its resultant challenges for the public health community: monitoring and protecting against threats to health and safety and promoting healthier lifestyles. Improving the relationship between community medicine and public health will require collaborative leadership, professional education, performance measures, incentive structures and changes to national health care funding to link financing.

Public Health And Community Medicine As Partners

Public health and medicine work together as partners. Rising prices, changing disease patterns, and increasing use of sophisticated technology for diagnosis and treatment have necessitated community medicine and public health partnerships.

Among the elements of successful Community Medicine and Public Health partnerships are a legal and regulatory framework ƒ with minimum standards for quality of services;  transparency and monitoring providesƒ social accountability ; continuity of policy helps to avoid duplication;  sharing of resourcesƒ mutually benefits both partners; cost sharing and responsibility reduces financial burden; communication and  sharing information,  manpower and financial resources improve quality of care.

Health Services Management professionals are often the link to appropriate services for many patients. Knowledge of the differences and similarities in Community and Public Health Care is essential.