Introduction
The domain of health promotion and disease prevention is undergoing fast transition with the emergence of new knowledge and development of new practices, and the rising rates of chronic diseases are creating new health challenges before health care providers. Health promotion is defined as “the art of science of motivating people to enhance their lifestyle to achieve complete health, not just the absence of disease” through a combination of strategies to increase awareness, facilitate behavior change, and develop cultures and physical environments that encourage and support healthy lifestyle practices. As the medical costs are expected to exceed 16% of U.S gross domestic product in 2005 and to grow at 7.2% annually through 2015, and even with highest per capita medical costs in the world the United States ranks 26th in terms of healthy life expectancy, it is suggested that strategies are critically needed to control U.S. medical costs (Background for the health promotion first (funding integrated research , synthesis and training) act and the healthy work force act, 2005). Only through concerted efforts of all the health care providers for changing existing attitudes and practices, adopting realistic strategic planning, and setting goals with measurable results that guide future efforts and improvement these challenges could be surmounted.
Body
An organization is a collection of individuals who must work together to accomplish common goals, and good management is a collective responsibility of every member of the organization. The organization and its leadership as well as individuals who make up the organization have some specific elements to contribute to the organization’s success. Anticipating and preparing for the future is an important leadership function and the process of managing the constant change that affects almost any organization is captured by the strategic planning process. A strategic planning is a term that is often misused to refer to a specific document, whereas a strategic plan document is one product of strategic planning process, but it is by no means the only product. The strategic planning process tries to answer three key questions such as, Where are we now?; Where do we want to be?; and How do we get there?, with each of the question having numerous dimensions for identifying an organizations strength and weakness covering present, past, and future.
It is well established that many in the federal, state, and local public health workforce and national, state, and local community organizations do not have the knowledge and skill of “cultural competence, advocacy, policy development, evaluation, use of community indicators, development of partnerships, convening and facilitation, and use of new communication technologies” to implement the socioecological approach to health promotion and prevention of disease and injury (Navarro et. al. 2006). Even though public health practice combines compassion for others with elements of activism, innovation, and challenge, but the most motivated individuals and the most well–intentioned leaders of organizations can falter when they try to translate their enthusiasm and interests into day-to-day practice. It is essential for everyone in an organization to understand their importance and their contribution to the organization, clearly stating that solid management is not solely the responsibility of the leaders and senior staff, but a joint venture of all concerned.
Although health promotion is severely under funded, yet by identifying our greatest weaknesses and opportunities, coordinating health promotion activities, motivating all those concerned in health care delivery, imparting proper training and inculcating managerial skills, and creating a new vision that “truly identifies the community as a stakeholder” will pave way for a new era in health promotion activities. Terry suggests that a broader field of view would generate the passion needed to eliminate inequalities, reduce societal excesses, and balance individual and social responsibility for health” (Terry, 2003, p.143). Taking cue from Drs Evans and Degutis, presented in their article “What It Takes for Congress to Act” all those associated with health promotion profession must mobilize action in the Federal and State policy setting for furthering their demand for leading the mission of solving national health problems (quoted by Terry, 2003).
Reference
Navarro, Amanda et al., (2006). Recommendation for future efforts in community health promotion: Report of the national expert panel on community health promotion. CDC. 2008. Web.
Background for the health promotion first (funding integrated research , synthesis and training) act and the healthy work force act. (2005). Health Promotion Advocates. 2008. Web.