Overview

The healthcare system and the public health system mutually co-exist. They work in tandem to identify health threats, treat these health occurances, and to educate individuals on how to remain healthy. Just as there are many sectors within the public health system, there are also diverse healthcare facilities and systems within the US and other countries.

What you will cover

1. Public Health and the Health Care System

a. Identify the range of healthcare facilities that exist in the US.
1) Diverse and complicated based on need and financial reimbursement approaches
2) Inpatient
a) Hospitals for short-term stays
b) Long-term care facilities
3) Outpatient
a) Clinical
b) Diagnostic testing
c) Therapeutic

b. Quality of care
1) May mean different things to different people
2) Defining and measuring quality can be controversial
3) Assessed by looking at structure, process and outcome measures
a) Characteristics of quality
b) Coordination and integration of healthcare delivery affects assessments

c. Compare health care systems of various countries.
1) Description of healthcare systems
a) Method of financing
b) Method of insurance and reimbursement
c) Methods for delivering services
d) Comprehensiveness of insurance
e) Cost and cost containment
f) Degree of patient choice
g) Administrative costs
2) Canadian and United Kingdom systems
3) Healthcare score card used to compare systems

d. Describe approaches to connecting public health and the healthcare system.
1) Goals of public health agencies and healthcare
2) Successful collaborations
a) National Vaccine Plan
b) Notifiable disease reporting
c) Tobacco control programs