Essential Public Health Services

Public Health
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Public Health
Question 1
During a bioterrorism event, the agency that should play the most significant role is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Apart from the great experience in collaboration between CDC as the coordinating agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the CDC is mandated to oversee the implementation of guidelines on initial responses (CDC, 2018). Also, the CDC is guided by the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 to operate cooperative programs such as the Laboratory Response Network and the Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism Program (Garfield, 2005). These programs are among the most impactful response strategies in planning, communication, and laboratory capabilities across the health system.
The person who would be needed during a bioterrorism emergency include the emergency responders in emergency departments such as doctors who specialize in contagious diseases to assist in the speedy detection of infections, carry out accurate diagnoses, and initiate timely medication of the affected population. Epidemiologists and laboratory experts would be needed to help identify the biological agent(s) and how to decontaminate the affected area(s) (Garfield, 2005). Infection control should also be done by experts while nurses and administrators of hospitals would implement prevention, management, and treatment measures.
During a natural disaster such as Category 4 or 5 hurricane, the health system needs to respond by providing surgical specialists such as orthopedic surgeons to treat musculoskeletal complications, burn surgeons to treat burned tissues, and neurosurgeons to treat brain damage/trauma. Also, emergency physicians, nurses, and specialists in critical care are important in providing first aid and specialized care. Hospital administrators would assist in managing the high volume of patients in hospitals.
Question 2
The public health purposes and public health essential services can be categorized into three: Assessment, development of policy, and assurance. Based on the public health purposes and the essential health services, the public health profiles of an epidemiologist and a community health specialist compare in major ways. For example, epidemiologists use quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to determine the occurrence, distribution, and severity of disease states and events in defined populations at specified time periods. Using this data, epidemiologists influence public health action to control or prevent mortality and morbidity in human populations. These occupational roles match with the concepts of assessment (monitoring, diagnosing, investigating health problems), policy formulation (educate, empower populations, develop strategies, and mobilize action), and assurance (research for progressive and sensible solutions, determine to what extent the proposed action is) (CDC, 2011).
The profile of epidemiologists compares with the profile of community health specialists as per the concepts that summarize the purposes and essential se...