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Council on Scientific Affairs

JAMA. 1990;264(4):503-506.

Abstract
A recent Institute of Medicine report defined "public health" as what society must do to keep people healthy and further defined it as involving the collection of data, assessment of problems, and assurance of health protection. Public health professionals include physicians, nurses, sanitarians, biostatisticians, engineers, and administrators, and epidemiology is public health's basic science. Past successes in the United States, such as increases in longevity and decreases in infant mortality and cardiovascular death rates, demonstrate that progress is possible; however, inequalities persist, for example, in infant mortality rates and availability of medical care to lower socioeconomic groups. The major responsibilities of public health departments include leading and coordinating public health efforts, controlling epidemics, carrying out disease and injury surveillance, collecting vital statistics, ensuring good medical and dental care for the indigent, environmental control, health education, and laboratory services.

(JAMA. 1990;264:503-506)

Author Affiliations
From the Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association, Chicago, Ill.

Footnotes
This report was presented to the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association at the December 1989 Interim Meeting as Council on Scientific Affairs Report E. The House passed the report.

This report is not intended to be construed or to serve as a standard of medical care. Standards of medical care are determined on the basis of all of the facts and circumstances involved in an individual case and are subject to change as scientific knowledge and technology advance and patterns of practice evolve. This report reflects the views of scientific literature as of October 1989.

Reprint requests to Council on Scientific Affairs, American Medical Association, 535 Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60610 (William R. Hendee, PhD).

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