Health departments in the United States
Health departments in the United States
Health departments in the United States (pronunciation: /hɛlθ dɪˈpɑːrtmənts ɪn ðə juːˈnaɪtɪd steɪts/) are government agencies at the federal, state, and local level that are responsible for overseeing the public health of the population.
Etymology
The term "health department" is derived from the English words "health", meaning the state of being free from illness or injury, and "department", meaning a specialized division within an organization. The term "United States" refers to the federal republic consisting of 50 states, a federal district, and five territories.
Federal Health Departments
At the federal level, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the primary agency responsible for protecting the health of all Americans. It provides essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. The HHS is divided into several sub-agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
State Health Departments
Each state in the United States has its own health department, which works in conjunction with the HHS to implement and manage health policies at the state level. These departments are responsible for a wide range of public health functions, including disease surveillance, health promotion, and healthcare service regulation.
Local Health Departments
Local health departments operate at the county or city level and are responsible for direct health services to individuals in their jurisdiction. These services can include immunizations, health inspections, and emergency preparedness.
Related Terms
- Public Health
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Food and Drug Administration
- National Institutes of Health
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Health departments in the United States
- Wikipedia's article - Health departments in the United States
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski