Introduction to Public Health & Emergency Medical Services

Osama A Samarkandi, PhD, RN

BSc, GMD, BSN, MSN, NIAC

EMS 313; Public Health for EMS Professionals

Class I; Sep. 2014

WHOs’ Definition of Health

• Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

• Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June, 1946; signed on 22 July 1946 by the representatives of 61 States (Official Records of the World Health Organization, no. 2, p. 100) and entered into force on 7 April 1948.

• The Definition has not been amended since 1948.

• http://www.who.int/about/definition/en/print.html

Wellness

Most public health organizations focus on six aspects of wellness: emotional, intellectual, occupational, physical, social, and spiritual. It is important for college students to balance all aspects of wellness in order to lead a healthy life.• Emotional Wellness

Emotional wellness involves being aware of our feelings and having appropriate ways to manage and express them.

• Intellectual WellnessIntellectual wellness involves stimulating your mind with creative and engaging material.

• Occupational WellnessOccupational wellness involves finding work that is satisfying and enriching.

• Physical WellnessPhysical wellness involves caring for the your body by exercising and eating nutritional foods.

• Social WellnessSocial wellness involves interacting and forming positive relationships with others.

• Spiritual WellnessSpiritual wellness involves seeking meaning in life and developing beliefs and values.

Refer to: http://oade.nd.edu/wellness for further details.

Wellness

Healthcare Delivery System

Healthcare Delivery System in Saudi Arabia

نص النظام األساسي للحكم • : 31الباب الخامس المادة

..تعنى الدولة بالصحة العامة وتوفر الرعاية الصحية لكل مواطن.

http://www.mofa.gov.sa/ABOUTKINGDOM/SAUDIGOVERNMENT/Pages/BasicSystemOfGovernance24887.aspx

Public Health Definition

• WHO: Public health refers to all organized measures (whether public or private) to prevent disease, promote health, and prolong life among the population as a whole. Its activities aim to provide conditions in which people can be healthy and focus on entire populations, not on individual patients or diseases. Thus, public health is concerned with the total system and not only the eradication of a particular disease.

http://www.who.int/trade/glossary/story076/en/

Public Health Definition

• Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals"

Public Health Functions

• The three main public health functions are:The assessment and monitoring of the health of

communities and populations at risk to identify health problems and priorities.

The formulation of public policies designed to solve identified local and national health problems and priorities.

To assure that all populations have access to appropriate and cost-effective care, including health promotion and disease prevention services.

http://www.who.int/trade/glossary/story076/en

Objective of Public Health

• The focus of a public health intervention is to prevent and manage diseases, injuries and other health conditions through surveillance of cases and the promotion of healthy behaviors, communities and environments

EMS and Public Health

• By its nature, EMS is part acute medical care, part public health, part mental health, part emergency service, part community service,

part social service, part transportation

service and more,

• Bottom line is: that’s a collaboration of EMS and public health will lead to improved health in the community

Questions ?