Abstract
Public health care professionals are involved in policy implementation at various stages in public-run health facilities. It is important they acquire skills that can help them implement these policies effectively. In addition, being accountable and efficiently managing resources within their control can contribute to the prudent use of public resources falling under their mandate.
Introduction
Over the years, the United States’ public health care has seen significant improvements in various aspects. Areas such as management of infectious diseases, provision of safer foods, fewer heart-related conditions, and more secure workplaces have contributed to a healthier country. Such developments have been partly linked to public health professionals because they are directly involved in influencing public healthcare care matters. They support health care growth by prudently implementing states’ sponsored public health policies. In addition to overseeing policy implementation, they monitor, enforce, mobilize, evaluate, inform, empower and research for novel innovations on health care issues. Their role is, therefore, critical in future financial decisions linked to public health policy.
Public health professionals and the future financing decisions of public health policy
Public health professionals play a major role in future decisions when it comes to health care financing. To influence future financing decisions, they need to restore confidence in the public health sector. They need to prove to the public as well as policymakers that financial investments in public facilities under their care are efficiently managed. Additionally, they need to demonstrate to the public that the resources bestowed on them are adding value to the facilities they are in charge of (Banta & De Wit, 2008). They can achieve this goal by crafting result-oriented measures and communicating the same to relevant stakeholders. Such a process will influence future decisions relating to the financial funding of public health policy.
Public health professionals empower and educate society on health care matters. The direct approach in which they deal with issues gives them the opportunity to understand the appropriate policy to implement (Noren, Kindig, & Sprenger, 1998). They need to support their policy approaches with compelling justifications to attract favorable policy decisions. Understanding and communicating quantitatively on public health investment will play a role in future funding decisions for a given public health policy they choose.
Measures to justify financing of national public health initiatives
One step taken to justify the national public health initiative is the value (Laureate Education, 2012). The value of the public investment, in this case, refers to various components such as cost accounting. Cost accounting will help rank programs based on priorities on available or anticipated resources (Turnock, 2000). Other initiatives to rank programs include logical models connected with value evaluation programs such as continuous quality improvements, performance management and quality of services, among others. Therefore, the value of a public investment can be used to justify funding.
The second measure is the Federal Initiatives (Getzen, 2013). Federal Initiatives through Healthy People 2010 is mandated with accountability in the public health sector. The initiative crafts objectives with designated focus areas in public health care
(Wolper, 2004). In addition to health infrastructures, the initiative is responsible for increasing the quality of life for citizens. Such initiative can justify financing of national public health initiatives.
Why these measures are necessary
Accountability is critical in assessing value for money. Assessing various impacts, the investment provides clarity enabling decision-makers to make judgments on whether they can continue investing or not (Lezine & Reed, 2010).
Federal policies such as Health People 2010 have been active across the country. It is playing a significant role in increasing public health sector infrastructures (Shi & Singh, 2011). The massive work it does to make citizen access affordable and quality health care is vital for the country.
Conclusion
Public health care professionals play a significant role in matters of financing decisions related to public health policy. They are involved in overseeing policy implementation at various levels. The understanding they have of public health prepares them to make sound decisions when determining future funding.
References
Banta, H.D., and De Wit, G.A. (2008). Public Health Services and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis. Annual Review Public Health, 29(4), 383-97.
Getzen, T. E. (2013). Health economics and financing (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons.
Laureate Education. (2012). Multi-media PowerPoint: Financing of public health initiatives. Web.
Lezine, D. A., and Reed, G. A. (2010). Political Will: A Bridge between Public Health Knowledge and Action. Am J Public Health, 97(11), 44-60
Noren, J., Kindig, D., and Sprenger, A. 1998. Challenges to Native American health care. Public Health Reports, 113(1), 22–33.
Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2011). The nation’s health (8th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Turnock, B. (2000). Public Health: What It Is and How It Works (2nd ed.). Gaithersburg, MD: Aspen
Wolper, L.F. (2004). Health Care Administration: Planning, Implementing, and Managing Organized Delivery Systems. Burlington, MS: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.