What is the role of the local health department in the healthcare system?

Local Public Health

Information about and for local public health departments in the State of Ohio.

The public health system in Ohio is comprised of the Ohio Department of Health, 113 local health departments, health care providers, and public health stakeholders that work together to promote and protect the health of all Ohioans.

Local health departments, like school districts, maintain independent governance, but often work together, along with the state and federal public health agencies. Depending on the type of health district (county or city jurisdiction), funding comes from the support of their community through levies, city general operating funds, contracts, county government, and inside millage. To help support local health departments, ODH receives funds from federal agencies, state general revenue, and other sources and distributes many of these funds through contracts and grants that contribute toward public health programs and services. ODH also provides technical support, laboratory services, and other critical services to aid local health department efforts.

Local health departments strive to protect and improve the health of their communities by preventing and controlling the spread of disease and injury, protecting against environmental hazards, promoting and supporting healthy behaviors, and preparing for and responding to emergencies.

Services that may be provided by a local health department include access to birth and death records, health education, immunization clinics, well-baby visits, pre-natal, health screenings, dental, disease surveillance and other services and programs. Local health departments administer core environmental health programs such as inspections related to food safety, public swimming pools, campgrounds, sewage, and water, as well as other environmental programs such as smoking, lead and asthma.  Ohio residents and businesses are encouraged to contact their local health department regarding environmental health concerns.  Click here for a comprehensive search tool, to locate your local health department by address.

Local Health Departments are governed by regulations in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) and the Ohio Administrative Code.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) believes in ensuring quality and affordable basic medical services for all. Singapore’s healthcare system is designed to ensure that everyone has access to different levels of healthcare in a timely, cost-effective and seamless manner.

MOH and its statutory boards are responsible for regulating Singapore’s healthcare system. All Healthcare facilities such as hospitals, medical centres, community health centres, nursing homes, clinics (including dental clinics), and clinical laboratories (including x-ray laboratories) are required to apply for licence under the Private Hospitals & Medical Clinics (PHMC) Act/Regulations.  All Healthcare facilities are also required to maintain a good standard of medical / clinical services under PHMC Act/Regulations.

The Ministry continuously works to shape the future of healthcare in Singapore and actively promotes healthy living and preventive health programmes as well as high standards of living, clean water and hygiene to achieve better health for all.

Health services make up an important part of the public service sector. Health services departments are responsible for the overall health and well-being of the communities they serve. While their main focus is general health and wellness, health services departments also provide treatment and care to members of the community who otherwise have no healthcare. They offer a wealth of career opportunities to doctors, nurses, undergraduate degree holders and MPA degree holders.

A health services department can offer a variety of programs. The following is a look at some of them.

Health services departments offer community members access to physicians and medications. Patients can visit a community clinic to get medical care and prescriptions if they do not have insurance or cannot otherwise afford medical care. In this case, care runs the gamut from pediatric and women’s care to general medical care. Many health services departments are best known for preventive and wellness care.

Some of the most popular general healthcare services include the following:

• Vaccinations.
• Routine checkups.
• Women’s care.
• School physicals.

The health services department routinely works with local entities like schools and senior care facilities and at community events to offer education on health and wellness. Topics range from proper diet and exercise to the importance of vaccinations and public safety measures. The health services department is responsible for creating presentations, providing educational materials and ensuring the community is aware of the health-related services available.

Both Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Healthy Start are federally funded programs that foster the health and wellness of children and new mothers. Local health services departments administer these programs, which give mothers and children access to healthy foods, immunizations and a host of other tools and supplies to ensure that at-risk children have the best possible chance at healthy lives.

One of the lesser-known functions of the health services department is research. The department keeps pertinent data on many different factors that affect the community. It administers behavioral studies to evaluate risk factors for teens and children, and conducts surveys on matters like tobacco use. It also keeps up-to-date research on any diseases or health issues that could affect the community.

The health services department also aims to protect the community from environmental hazards. It monitors consumer safety, an aspect of public health that encompasses food safety, drinking water safety and the potential hazards posed by certain public places such as pools. It also gives consumers access to information related to environmental safety — such as the pollutants found in air or water — and provides related services.

The preceding examples highlight the vital role a health services department plays in community health and well-being as well as the career options it offers to suit a variety of educational and professional backgrounds.

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