- Choose a recent outbreak or other public health emergency situation that has drawn significant media attention and describe how specific occupational categories in the public health infrastructure contributed to either the emergency situation or its solution. Please properly cite and reference you sources of information (APA).
- Discuss the competencies needed for public health workers. Why are competency frameworks important? (Chapter 7 and the last Chapter 7 PowerPoint slide)
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor in charge of creating college assignments and answers for medical college students, it is important to focus on real-world scenarios and situations that students may encounter in their future careers. This includes discussing recent public health emergencies and the competencies needed for public health workers.
Answer 1:
A recent outbreak that drew significant media attention was the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014. This outbreak affected multiple countries, resulting in over 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths (World Health Organization, 2020). Specific occupational categories that played a key role in either contributing to the emergency situation or its solution include healthcare workers, epidemiologists, and public health officials.
In the beginning, healthcare workers were particularly vulnerable to contracting the disease due to a lack of proper protective equipment and training. However, as the outbreak continued, healthcare workers received more training and resources to better handle and prevent the spread of the disease. Epidemiologists were also crucial in identifying and tracking the spread of the disease, allowing interventions to be implemented. Finally, public health officials played a critical role in coordinating the response across multiple countries and organizations.
Sources:
World Health Organization. (2020). Ebola virus disease. https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/ebola-virus-disease
Answer 2:
Competencies for public health workers include a mix of technical, interpersonal, and leadership skills. Technical skills include specific knowledge and expertise in areas such as epidemiology, biostatistics, and environmental health. Interpersonal skills include the ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders, including healthcare providers, policymakers, and community members. Leadership skills are also essential, as public health workers are often responsible for coordinating and leading teams and programs.
Competency frameworks are important because they provide a clear set of expectations for public health workers and can help guide professional development and performance evaluations. They can also help ensure that public health workers have the necessary skills and knowledge to address complex and evolving public health challenges.
Sources:
Bureau of Health Workforce. (n.d.). Public Health Workforce Development. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/workforce-public-health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Public Health Competency-Based Training Needs Assessment. https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/Docs/Public_Health_Competency_Based_Training_Needs_Assessment.pdf.
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