Healthcare Agencies and Organizations

Federal, state, and local health departments have huge responsibilities. These departments protect and improve the public health of your local community. Federal, state, and local health departments provide services related to primary prevention, screening, and treatment of diseases. They provide laboratory services, preparation to public health emergencies, health care services, regulation of health care providers, environmental health, and vaccine management. In addition, local health departments routinely inspect restaurants, hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics for cleanliness and safety. Federal and state health departments help define legislation regarding health and health care at both the state and federal levels. In this topic, you will explore the roles of federal, state, and local health departments.

There are several branches that work for, or in conjuction with, national, state, and local health departments. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are both national organizations that provide critical services related to public health. In this topic, you will learn the importance of each of these organizations to your health and the health of those around you.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and World Health Organization (WHO) are specialized agencies that provide services related to public health. The CDC and NIH are federal agencies in the United States. The WHO focuses on international public health and is part of the United Nations. In this topic, you will investigate these specialized agencies and their functions related to public health.

Essential Questions

• How do federal, state, and local health departments protect public health?
• How do agencies and organizations work to protect public health?