COVID-19 brings classes for public well being infrastructure

The COVID-19 pandemic uncovered gaps in public well being infrastructure, associated to persistent underfunding. But the pandemic has additionally opened alternatives for strengthening the foundational capabilities of public well being companies throughout america, based on a report in a particular complement to the Journal of Public Well being Administration and Follow.

“The pandemic response highlighted the significance of getting a sturdy public well being infrastructure that’s well-supported within the areas of foundational capabilities,” based on the paper by Maria Courogen, MPH, of the Washington State Division of Well being and colleagues. The article seems as a part of a particular subject dedicated to public well being transformation and innovation.

‘Resetting the course for foundational public well being companies’

Courogen and colleagues define efforts by three states—Ohio, Oregon, and Washington—to develop and advance Foundational Public Well being Companies (FPHS), outlined because the “minimal package deal of public well being capabilities and applications that no jurisdiction may be with out.” In 2016, the three states obtained funding to outline, measure, and advocate for the governmental public well being system. The authors write that “the pandemic revealed the implications of underinvesting in public well being” and “introduced alternatives to speed up FPHS work and challenges to its development.”

• In Ohio, the pandemic highlighted the coaching and technical help wanted for native well being departments to earn PHAB accreditation—a novel requirement of state legislation. Nevertheless, efforts to fill FPHS gaps are difficult by funding shortfalls, whereas latest coverage adjustments may have “far-reaching, unintended penalties” for the flexibility to reply to future communicable illness threats.
• In Oregon, COVID-19 introduced consideration on current public well being modernization initiatives, targeted on high-risk populations systematically underserved by the well being system. Classes from the pandemic embody rising preparedness to reply to a number of, simultaneous public well being threats, enhancing integration with neighborhood companions, and initiatives prioritizing well being and fairness.
• In Washington, pre-pandemic investments in public well being had been “comparatively small,” in comparison with the assessed gaps. Within the wake of COVID-19, public well being leaders labored to extend information and appreciation of the FPHS, motivating elevated funding to satisfy these wants. Different outcomes included creation of a brand new Public Well being Advisory Board and new necessities to diversify native boards of well being to incorporate neighborhood members and well being consultants.

The states’ work in “defining, measuring, and advocating for FPHS proved useful when it got here time to reply to a pandemic,” Courogen and colleagues write. “Ohio, Oregon, and Washington are resetting the course of FPHS to adequately fund and measure progress in these Foundational Capabilities.” These three states are alongside 16 others in PHNCI at PHAB’s 21^st Century Studying Neighborhood, targeted on advancing public well being transformation.

Professionals and policymakers are challenged to “seize the chance to reimagine public well being,” based on an introduction by Reena Chudgar, MPH, and Jessica Solomon Fisher, MCP, of PHNCI and PHAB. “We should work collectively, collaborate with cross-sector companions, and share and cede energy with and to the communities we serve to establish options to remodel public well being follow.”

Newly revised in 2022, the FPHS “present(s) readability for the reform wanted inside our US public well being system,” based on a commentary from Paul Kuehnert, DNP, RN, FAAN, of PHAB and colleagues.  “The pandemic has demonstrated the vital want for and significance of a robust public well being system and infrastructure,” they write. “We’ve the uncommon alternative to harness policymaker curiosity and federal funding to remodel and modernize public well being in america.”