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A Framework to Measure the Value of Public Health Services
Health Services Research, 08/20/09

Jacobson PD et al. – The authors developed a framework that considers four component elements to measure value: external factors that must be taken into account (i.e., mandates); key internal actions that a local health department must take (i.e., staff assessment); using appropriate quantitative measures; and communicating value to elected officials and the public.

Exclusive Author Commentary
Peter D. Jacobson, 08/24/09

One of the issues that needs to be considered in subsequent work is the role of organized medicine and individual physicians in public health. Although medical care long ago eclipsed public health in terms of overall expenditures and professional status, a robust public health system is imperative as a complement to individual medical care. For public health to remain a robust enterprise, it needs effective collaboration with organized medicine. Individual physicians can and do work with local health departments to reduce the spread of disease and to incorporate prevention into their clinical practices. But organized medicine has been slower to be a strong advocate for increased allocations of public funds to improve public health systems. Moving forward, it is essential that organized medicine become more actively engaged in assuring that a robust public health system remains a component of the health system. How to do so effectively is something that I hope medical societies will seriously consider.

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