Discussion Thread Post: Public Health and Healthcare Systems
HLTH 507: Public Health Administration
In healthcare, there are many new things to uncover such as new technology, new
terminology, and different approaches to issues in the healthcare field. I’ve been around the
health field for some time now to know that agencies in the government play a crucial role in
public health and healthcare systems. There are many differences between healthcare system
and public health. Each system plays a very distinct role in the promotion and maintenance of
human health in society. However, there is a distinction between healthcare system and public
health. These differences and similarities create the perfect fit for each other to work for
individuals. Public Health can be defined as the science behind disease prevention, extension of
life, improving and preserving of health among the living, policy development, educating and
being aware of healthy choices and behaviors.3
Meanwhile, healthcare consists of an institution of individuals that directly involve
patient care, the diagnosis and treatment of patients, the provision of quality care, and the cost
effectiveness to healthcare. The way they complement and differ from each other is that public
health seeks to operate on a higher level than many would think. Developing procedures,
policies, and taking on initiatives to better our community while healthcare system is left to
execute those procedures and implement what is instructed from public health.3 Regardless of
the difference and similarities, the two-health systems take on impossible tasks with the
interest of serving the community on a high level. Public health and healthcare systems working
together can help broken communities with better healthcare approaches and policies that will
lessen the competition for government funding.
The influential parties that have an impact on the public health and healthcare systems
are the different levels of government. The responsibility of the local, state, and federal
government is to maintain and divide funding through different agencies such as Medicaid,
Medicare, and to appoint individuals such as politicians to run, dissolve, or promote these
programs.2 In public health, there are appointed officials at the federal level in companies such
as the CDCP and the FDA who manage day to day operations that play a large role in our health
decisions.2 The federal government is responsible for the administration of resources and the
state level makes crucial decisions on policies that will impact our neighborhoods and
communities.3 At the state level, governors and other high ranking officials engage in and
discuss policies and strategies on how to move forward with healthcare. The local government
is left with large tasks which include implementing the policies and procedures that are
mandated by the federal and state government.2 The local government discussions of public
health and healthcare system take place between county officials, local counsel officials, and the
city mayor.
There are a lot of consistencies and inconsistencies within the public health, healthcare
system, and governing bodies. Some of these consistencies and inconsistencies are
fragmentation of service, population health, timeframes, and the allocation of resources.
Incorporating public health and healthcare systems with the scripture, the bible is a guide and in
the book of Galatians chapter 3 verse 28 it states, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”1 As a
Christian, I believe that people should receive the same treatment in all communities. The bible
stated that all his servants should be treated equally, and this goes for public health, healthcare
system and their providers.
References
1. Nelson T. Holy Bible. New King James Version: 1982.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=galatians+3%3A28+&version=NKJV
2. Niles NJ. Basic of the U.S. Health Care System. 4th ed. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett
Learning; 2021.
3. Shi L, Johnson JA. Novick & Morrows Public Health Administration: Principles for
Population-Based Management. 4th ed. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning; 2021.
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