Influenza is one disease that is of significant public health concern in the United States. Consequently, a lot of information on the disease is available on local, state and national websites. These sites provide information on the condition including how to take care of patients affected. Relevant local, state, and national websites were assessed to determine the Hawaiian Influenza status. A table on the content of these websites was created. This essay describes and summarizes the findings of the national, state, and local government on their coverage of influenza.
Information Overlap
The websites selected had significant information overlap. These websites discussed influenza and provided information to any individual that opened the pages. First, all the three websites defined the condition, including making a description of the epidemiological characteristics of this disease. The local website made a thorough description of the health condition and the different ways that people may be affected (‘Flu Epidemic Hits Hawaii?’ 2015). On the other hand, the state website made a less detailed description of influenza (‘Hawaii State Department of Health’, 2015). The national website provided the most detailed description of the condition (Hawaii, 2015).
The three websites selected discussed the prevalence of influenza in the State of Hawaii. This description was the other overlap in the website content. In addition, the three websites contained information on the areas that are more affected and the measures in place to prevent the spread of the disease in the event of an epidemic. Aside from the provision of data on the prevalence of the condition, the other overlap in the information provided was the available medical interventions such as medicines and vaccinations (‘Flu Epidemic Hits Hawaii?’ 2015). These websites contained information on the influenza vaccine development that is taking place in the country.
Structure between Levels of Governments
The three levels have functional overlap as indicated. However, each level has a defined function. The local level is involved in the monitoring of individuals in the society and ensuring that a diagnosis of the condition is made before it spreads to another area. The state level of the disease prevention formulates policies aimed at keeping the disease in check (‘Hawaii State Department of Health’, 2015). The state website provides information that is useful in the assessment of the impact of influenza on the region. On the other hand, the national website indicates that this level of disease prevention mainly focuses on policy implementation and financing of programs aimed at primary prevention (‘Hawaii’, 2015).
Functions of Each Level
The three levels of the control of influenza are evident in the structure of the websites and their content. The local level of influenza control serves to monitor the presence of the condition in the community. Individuals working at this level have direct contact with the vulnerable population and the affected patients. On the other hand, the state is involved in the monitoring of the general health of the population and ensuring that the nation is free of the disease. State policies are focused on preventing the disease and ensuring that the population is not affected (‘Hawaii State Department of Health’, 2015). Hawaii’s government has the role of preventing the entry of sick patients undetected. The national government formulates policies that affect the control of the condition. These policies include the preparedness for future epidemics and funding (‘Hawaii’, 2015).
The local health agency website indicates that this level of disease prevention is involved in the dissemination of information to patients and the healthcare providers (‘Flu Epidemic Hits Hawaii?’ 2015). This information is important in the event of suspected cases such as those in Hawaii. On the other hand, the state agencies provide surveillance on the condition and map out the areas affected (‘Hawaii State Department of Health’, 2015). This level also provides the necessary information for the prevention of the condition. The national level of influenza monitoring and control indicated by the website also serves to prevent the spread of influenza and provide information on the condition.
Working Together
Despite the different levels of prevention of influenza being evident, local, state, and national departments work together on different parts of the prevention program. First, these levels work together in the monitoring of this health condition. The local authorities and agencies collect information on the patients and forward it to the state agencies and the national organizations. The information is used to plan and influence the existing health policies.
There is collaboration between the three levels of influenza prevention in Hawaii. While the national health agencies monitor the condition in other parts of the world, the state agencies prepare for any cases that may develop. In addition, the local health agencies in Hawaii actively participate in the management of suspected patients and enforcing national and state policies on influenza (‘Hawaii State Department of Health’, 2015). Therefore, these levels collaborate in the prevention of any epidemic and ensuring that the nation stays free of influenza. Public and community health may be defined as the maintenance of wellbeing of a society or community. Public health focuses on the prevention of diseases in the community.
References
Flu Epidemic Hits Hawaii? (2015). Web.
Hawaii State Department of Health Disease Outbreak Control Division: Influenza Surveillance Report. (2015). Web.
Hawaii. (2015). Web.