1. Counting Public Health Workers
Kristine M. Gebbie, DrPH, RN
April 4, 2006

2. Public health infrastructure: the foundation
Prepared Workforce
Data and Information
Systems and Relationships
PAHO
April 4, 2006

3. Data and information Health status Threats to health
Resources that support health
PAHO
April 4, 2006

4. Systems and relationships
Legal structure
Organizational structure
Formal working agreements
Interpersonal relationships
PAHO
April 4, 2006

5. Prepared workers Competent for expected roles and duties
Oriented to the mission of the organization
Motivated to perform at a high level
PAHO
April 4, 2006

6. Who are the workers in the US?
2000: 448,254 workers in salaried positions, primarily in state and local health departments and schools of public health
2004: 552,061 in governmental agencies
Enumeration 2000, HRSA
Full publication on line at Columbia University School of Nursing or available through HRSA.
Bureau of the Census, 2005
PAHO
April 4, 2006

7. National Summary Technical 14% Clerical/Support 13% Professional 44%
Category
Unreported
25%
Administrative 4%
PAHO
April 4, 2006

8. National Summary of workers by location
Local
34%
Federal
19%
Other
14%
State
33%
“Other” primarily includes schools of public health and the voluntary organizations.
PAHO
April 4, 2006

9. Changes in workforce size
,000
,400
,700
,000
PAHO
April 4, 2006

10. We can’t identify Pre-employment training Job titles
Day-to-day functional responsibilities
What difference any of these make to programs
PAHO
April 4, 2006

11. We can’t plan effectively
How old are the workers?
What are their career plans?
What is the next generation like?
PAHO
April 4, 2006

12. Who else does public health
Community clinics
Hospital infection control
Hazardous material regulation
Agriculture food protection
Private industry
Occupational health
Food safety
PAHO
April 4, 2006

13. We should be looking ahead
Middle school and high school career clubs
Summer employment for students
Public health as a science elective
Clinical experiences for health professions students
PAHO
April 4, 2006

14. Columbia University School of Nursing 630 West 168th Street
New York, New York
PAHO
April 4, 2006