Modernizing Public Health Infrastructure: A Call to Action from the American College of Physicians

Strategic Insights -

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released a new policy paper, "Modernizing the United States' Public Health Infrastructure," urging immediate action from Congress to modernize the nation's public health infrastructure and address the severe shortage of public health workers. The paper, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, highlights the need for sufficient and stable funding for public health at the federal, state, and local levels. ACP also calls for the development of a national public health data system and increased collaboration between public health and primary care.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of public health workers employed by state and local governments declined by 15 percent from 2011 to 2021.
  • 27 percent of state and local public health workers intend to leave their position within a year.
  • ACP recommends that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) designate a new public-health official to coordinate interagency work and be responsible for public health efforts.
  • The paper calls for Congress to provide sufficient and stable funding for public health at the federal, state, and local levels.
  • ACP emphasizes the need to address the severe shortage of public health workers and develop strategies to attract and retain qualified professionals.
  • The paper recommends the development of a national public health data system that would enable real-time information sharing between public health departments, physicians, hospitals, and laboratories.

Statistics:

  • 15 percent decline in public health workers employed by state and local governments from 2011 to 2021.
  • 27 percent of state and local public health workers intend to leave their position within a year.
  • 160,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students are members of the American College of Physicians.

Sources:

  • "Modernizing the United States' Public Health Infrastructure: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians." American College of Physicians.
  • The Annals of Internal Medicine, July 17, 2023.
  • American College of Physicians, "About the American College of Physicians," 2023.