Understanding the Role of the Office of Public Health and
Science
The
Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) is a subdivision of the
Office of the Secretary of the United States Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS). Under the leadership of the Assistant
Secretary for Health, the OPHS manages several different public health
offices, sub-agencies, councils, and advisory committees that operate
under the auspices of the United States Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS), including the:
- National Vaccine Program Office
- Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
- Office of HIV/AIDS Policy
- Office for Human Research Protections
- Office of Minority Health
- Office of Population Affairs
- Office of Research Integrity
- President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
- President's Council on Bioethics
- Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability
- Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee.
In
addition, through the Office of the United States Surgeon General, the
OPHS directs the activities of the Public Health Commissioned Corps, a
uniformed service of the United States government, and the Medical
Reserve Corps. The OPHS also serves as the umbrella agency for
the
nation's Regional Health Administrators, whose offices function as
local arms of the HHS and OPHS throughout the country. The
OPHS
has a distinctly interdisciplinary focus; its primary role is to
coordinate resources from throughout HHS in the fields of public health
and science and provide leadership in HHS initiatives and interventions
in these areas. The head of the OPHS, the Assistant Secretary
for
Health, serves as a chief advisor to the Secretary of HHS with respect
to matters of public health and scientific research relating to health
matters.
Inside the Office of Public Health and Science
(OPHS):
The
Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) supervises Regional Health
Administrators in ten regions throughout the United States. In
addition, the OPHS leads several initiatives related to using science
and scientific research to improve and protect public
health. These initiatives include an action plan to prevent
health
care-associated infections, the development of a toolkit for the
improvement of influenza vaccination rates among health care personnel,
the direction of an inter-agency work group to improve the health of
individuals suffering from multiple chronic conditions, and
participation in the Public Health System, Finance, and Quality
Program.
- Office of Public Health and Science: The
homepage of OPHS summarizes the duties of the office and offers
descriptions of and links to the offices, committees and councils that
it directs under the leadership of the Assistant Secretary for Health
(ASH). It also features links to statements by the ASH, news
items
and press releases related to the work of the OPHS, and a video message
from HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius encouraging professionals to
enlist in the Medical Reserve Corps, an auxiliary branch of the Public
Health Commissioned Corps, whose activities are directed by the OPHS.
- Assistant Secretary for Health: This
page on the HHS website provides a biography of Dr. Howard K. Koh, the
sitting Assistant Secretary for Health (ASH). The ASH heads
the
OPHS and serves as the primary advisor to the Secretary of HHS on
matters of public health and science. The duties of the ASH
include not only the direction of the OPHS, but also the supervision of
the Office of the Surgeon General and the Public Health Commissioned
Corps, one of seven branches of uniformed personnel that serve the
federal government. The ASH is nominated by the President of
the
United States and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.
- OPHS Final Action Plan to Prevent
Healthcare-Associated Infections: One
of the primary goals of the OPHS is the prevention and reduction of
health care-related infections, which are responsible for as many as
100,000 preventable deaths in the United States each year. The
OPHS released its final action plan for this initiative in June 2009.
- Health Care Personnel Initiative to Improve
Influenza Vaccination and Toolkit: Another
chief goal of the OPHS is the improvement of the influenza vaccination
rate among health care personnel in order to decrease the likelihood
that they will contract influenza, decrease the likelihood that
patients will contract influenza from their caregivers, and encourage
health care professionals to serve as positive examples of the benefits
of influenza vaccination to the public that they serve.
- Interagency Workgroup on Multiple Chronic
Conditions: In
2008, the OPHS convened an inter-agency work group within HHS to
address the goal of improving the health and quality of life of
individuals suffering simultaneously from two or more chronic
conditions. The work group is addressing methods of assisting
health care providers in their efforts to treat individuals with
multiple chronic conditions, helping individuals with multiple chronic
conditions care for themselves more efficiently, implementing changes
in the health care system so as to better address the needs of
individuals with multiple chronic conditions, and devising research
objectives for the development of tools and methodologies to achieve
these goals.
- Public Health System, Finance, and Quality
Program: The
OPHS is a participant in the Public Health System, Finance, and Quality
Program (PHSFQ), which serves as a network of federal agencies
partnered together to address issues of policy, financial
sustainability, and overall quality in the public health system.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):
The Parent Agency of the Office of Public Health and Science:
The
United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is a
cabinet-level department and executive agency of the federal
government. It is charged with promoting, improving, and
protecting the health of the American public and with providing
services essential to the overall well-being of the citizenry,
particularly the needy, the disabled, the elderly, and other vulnerable
populations. The Office of Public Health and Science is the
primary subdivision of the department, but HHS is also responsible for
overseeing the:
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
- National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA)
- Administration on Aging (AOA)
- Agency for Health care Research and Quality (AHRQ)
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
- Health Resources and Services Administration, and the
Indian Health Service (HIS)
Look to the following for more information on the department
of Health and Human Services:
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: The
homepage of the HHS website provides links to news items and press
releases from the department and its subdivisions, as well as links to
the individual offices and subdivisions that make up its family of
federal agencies. The site also offers a full video and audio
library relating to the work and topic areas of the HHS for members of
the public who want more information.
- Secretary of Health and Human Services: The
Secretary of Health and Human Services is the head official of
HHS. The HHS Secretary is a member of the President's cabinet
and
serves as a direct advisor to the President on matters relating to
public health and well-being. The current Secretary of HHS is
Kathleen Sebelius, former governor of the state of
Kansas. This
page on the HHS website offers biographical information on Secretary
Sebelius and updates on her activities and accomplishments in the
current presidential administration.
Subordinate Offices and Agencies of the Office
of Public Health and Science (OPHS):
The
Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS) manages a number of
sub-agencies, offices, public health programs and initiatives, regional
health administrations, advisory committees, and presidential councils
that deal with a range of issues relating to public health and
scientific research, from disease prevention to health concerns of
minorities and women to research integrity and bioethics to HIV/AIDS
policy to physical fitness.
The Office of Public Health
also oversees the Office of the Surgeon General, the Public Health
Commissioned Corps, and the Medical Reserve Corps. Look to the
following for more detailed information:
- Office of the Surgeon General: The
Surgeon General is the federal government's chief medical officer and
the primary source of medical and health education for the American
public. The Surgeon General is also the officer in charge of
the
Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
- U.S.
Public Health Service Commissioned Corps: The
U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHS) is a uniformed
service of the federal government consisting of 6000 full-time
professionals in the health care and related fields, including
physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers,
scientists, veterinarians, and engineers, among
others. Professionals who serve with the USPHS are front line
responders in the event of a health or medical emergency that threatens
public health. They also implement various educational,
preventative, and treatment programs and initiatives.
- Medical Reserve Corps: The
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a civilian volunteer force intended to
supplement the USPHS in times of national crisis or
need. Members
of the MRC are health care professionals who respond on behalf of the
federal government in the event of natural disasters and emergencies
and provide community support and resources in the aftermath of such
events.
- Regional Health Administrators: For
the purposes of health administration under the auspices of the HHS and
OPHS, the United States is divided into ten regions, each with its own
Regional Health Administrator. The Regional Health
Administrator
is a the senior federal public health official for his or her assigned
region and reports directly to the OPHS and ASH. Regional
Health
Administrators serve as agents of the OPHS in their local areas,
carrying out duties relating to the implementation of initiatives of
preventing disease, with a particular on health issues that impact
minorities and women, including reproductive health and HIV/AIDS
treatment and prevention. They also serve as front line agents
in
responding to public health hazards and emergencies and in maintaining
federal readiness and preparedness to deal with such
crises. In
addition, they assist the OPHS in its primary role of coordinating
agencies and agency resources from within the HHS to deal with critical
public health missions.
- National
Vaccine Program Office: The
National Vaccine Program Office (NVPO) directs and coordinates efforts
and resources among federal agencies that implement federal vaccination
programs and initiatives. The NVPO homepage provides
information
on immunizations, including disease preventable by vaccine, vaccine
safety, and immunization laws.
- Office of Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion: The
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) is the office
of the OPHS primarily concerned with preventing disease, particularly
by promoting activities and behaviors that will ward off health
conditions. One of the major initiatives of the ODPHP is the
formation of dietary and nutritional guidelines and the prevention of
obesity.
- Office of HIV/AIDS Policy: The
Office of HIV/AIDS Policy (OHAP) is the center of the efforts of HHS
and OPHS to formulate HIV/AIDS Policy and administer programs related
to HIV/AIDS prevention, diagnosis, treatment and education.
- Presidential
Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS: The
objective of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) is
to propose policy and formulate recommendations with respect to
strategies to be adopted by the federal government in preventing,
treating, and containing HIV/AIDS.
- Office
of Human Research Protections: The
Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) proposes policy and
regulations relating to the use of human subjects in scientific
research conducted by, through, or with the support of HHS and the
preservation of their health and well-being.
- Office
of Research Integrity: The
Office of Research Integrity (ORI) is responsible for monitoring
research conducted by the U.S. Public Health Service, investigating
accusations of misconduct, enforcing regulations designed to preserve
the integrity of the federal government's research efforts in the area
of public health, and implementing safeguards designed to maintain
research integrity.
- The
President's Council on Bioethics: The
President's Council on Bioethics was created by executive order in 2001
to advise the President and the HHS on ethical matters arising in
relation to scientific and technological advances and
developments.
- Office
of Population Affairs: The
Office of Population Affairs (OPA) advises HHS and OPHS on policies and
strategies relating to reproductive health and family planning,
including the prevention of teen pregnancy.
- Office on Women's Health: The
Office on Women's Health (OWH) implements initiatives and programs
related to health issues unique to women. In particular, the
OWH
recognizes past disparities between treatment and services provided to
women and men which have placed women at a disadvantage. One
goal
of the OWH is to address and redress these past inequities.
- Office
of Minority Health: The
Office of Minority Health (OMH) seeks to propose and implement programs
and strategies that will address health issues that are particularly
pertinent to members of America's minority populations.
- Advisory Committe on Blood Safety and
Availability: The
Advisory Committee on Blood Safety and Availability (ACBSA) advises HHS
and OPHS on issues relating to the maintenance of a safe blood supply
and the development of public health policy to ensure the safety and
availability of blood and blood products to promote and preserve public
health.
- The
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports: The
President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) proposes
physical activity guidelines for Americans and advises the President on
promoting the health of the American public, particularly school
children, through activities and behaviors that develop physical
fitness.
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee: The
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee (CFSAC) advises HHS and
OPHS regarding research related to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), as
well as diagnosis and treatment of CFS. The CFSAC is currently
being administered and managed through the Office on Women's
Health.
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