Introduction
Public Health in Minnesota
CHS Administration Handbook
Introduction
Last Revised: January 2014
Public Health in Minnesota
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What is Public Health?
What does Public Health Do?
Minnesota's public health system functions as a partnership between state and local governments, and is designed to ensure
that the public's health and safety are protected statewide while providing local governments with the flexibility needed to
identify and address local needs.
In a time of constrained resources, community health boards need to continue to build capacity to address increasingly complex public health issues. Many regions use similar approaches to maximize resources, including cross-jurisdictional sharing to
achieve economies of scale, increasing efficiency, focusing on quality improvement, developing the public health workforce
and leadership, and emphasizing the importance of a strong public health infrastructure.
What is Public Health?
Public health focuses on the health needs of the population as a whole, and gives priority to preventing problems over the
early detection and treatment of problems. By focusing on the greatest good for the greatest number of people, public health
organizes community resources to meet health needs and takes positive action to address community health issues.
Public health is based on an understanding of the
causes of health problems; a person's health outcomes
can be impacted by everything from genetics, to environmental factors, to living conditions, to cultural
norms, and to individual choices. It is generally accepted that overall population health is determined by the
four factors below, approximately weighted according
to their impact.
Factors Influencing Health and Well-Being
Social and Economic
Factors
10%
10%
Health Behaviors
40%
10%
Public health is closely intertwined with many other
issues that affect public health—called social determinants of health. For example, poor health habits like
30%
smoking or excess alcohol use can lead to chronic
diseases and increased hospital costs. Youth violence
can result in increased costs for court time and correctional facilities. It can be difficult to visualize the broad
factors that influence health, which can make public health difficult to describe in concrete terms.
Clinical Care
Physical Environment
Genes and Biology
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (better known as the CDC) compiled the following ten great health achievements of the 20th century:
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Vaccination
Motor-vehicle safety
Safer workplaces
Control of infectious diseases
Decline in deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/opi/
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Safer and healthier foods
Healthier mothers and babies
Family planning
Fluoridation of drinking water
Recognition of tobacco use as a health hazard
Minnesota Department of Health Office of Performance Improvement
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Introduction
Public Health in Minnesota
CHS Administration Handbook
This list is based on the opportunity for prevention, and the impact on death, illness, and disability in the US. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the average American's lifespan has increased by greater than 30 years, and 25 years of this gain can
be attributed to public health advances.
What does Public Health Do?
According to the Institute of Medicine's well-known 1988 study, The Future of Public Health, the core functions described below are carried out primarily by government and constitute the most critical foundations of an effective public health system.
Assessment
The assessment function of public health can be viewed as "knowing
what needs to be done." This encompasses activities such as epidemiological surveillance, data collection and analysis, monitoring and
forecasting, root cause analysis, and other research practices. The
assessment function is often used to facilitate decision making by
collecting the best evidence with which to weigh competing options
and consider the allocation of limited resources.
Policy Development
The policy development function of public health can be viewed as
"being part of the solution." This includes being involved in the crafting of legislation, rules, policies, practices, and budgets. In its policy
development capacity, a public health entity may plan for and set
priorities, provide leadership and advocacy, convene and negotiate
with stakeholders, mobilize resources, provide training, or encourage
private action. In policy development, the process is often just as important as the product—it will ideally be fair, inclusive, and
far-sighted.
Assurance
Assurance can also be thought of as "making sure it happens." The government can ensure public health services are delivered by
mandating them, providing services directly, or incenting other sectors to take action. This often requires implementation of legislative language, regulation, reporting on progress, and holding stakeholders accountable. Exercising this authority comes with
great responsibility and entails a strong level of commitment to the welfare of the community. In its assurance capacity, the government is challenged to strike the appropriate balance between free market interests and social equity or the greater good.
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Minnesota Department of Health Office of Performance Improvement
www.health.state.mn.us/divs/opi/