American College of Emergency Physicians

Public Health and Injury Prevention Resources

Resources Gathered by the Public Health and Injury Prevention Committee

Definition of public health as it relates to emergency medicine
The concept of "health" was defined by the World Health Organization in 1946 as the "state of complete physical, mental and social well-being…" Public health tries to assure conditions in which people can be healthy, including scientific based efforts to promote health and prevent disease. There are many ways that this can be done including through public policy, educational programs and disease screening efforts. Emergency medicine intersects with public health in a number of areas, such as injury prevention, response preparedness to terrorism and natural disasters, and as the health care source of last resort for many individuals. Emergency physicians treat patient with health problems every day. Some of these injuries and diseases could be prevented or their effects mitigated through thoughtful consideration by emergency physicians, emergency medicine organizations and their allies.

Public Health and Injury Prevention Committee (PHC) Mission Statement
To examine and analyze the role of emergency medicine in public health, and to make recommendations to the Board regarding this role in such areas as health promotion, prevention and management of infectious diseases, and the prevention and control of violence and injuries.

Current Public Health and Injury Prevention Committee Objectives
Current Public Health and Injury Prevention Committee Members

The PHC maintains a liaison relationship with specific public health groups. Currently these groups include the American Public Health Association and the Healthy People 2010.

Partner Groups and Agencies

American Public Health Association
APHA, representing more than 50,000 members from over 50 occupations of public health, is concerned with a broad set of issues affecting personal and environmental health, including federal and state funding for health programs, pollution control, programs and policies related to chronic and infectious diseases, a smoke-free society, and professional education in public health.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CDC is recognized as the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people - at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions, and promoting health through strong partnerships. CDC serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the US.

National Institutes for Health
NIH is the steward of medical and behavioral research for the Nation. Its mission is science in pursuit of fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to extend healthy life and reduce the burdens of illness and disability.

Healthy People 2010
HP 2010 is a set of health objectives for the Nation to achieve over the first decade of the new century. It can be used by many different people, States, communities, professional organizations, and others to help them develop programs to improve health.

Terrorism and Disaster Response

ACEP Section of Disaster Medicine

Injury Prevention and Control

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Resources
Updated CDC clinical alerts and links to the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

ACEP topic page, Injury Prevention Resources for Emergency Physicians

ACEP Section of Trauma and Injury Prevention

National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC)

Violence Prevention Resources

Emergency Department Violence: An Overview and Compilation of Resources

Preventive Care in the Emergency Department

Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention in the ED resource kit
Facts and resources on screening and providing intervention for patients presenting to the ED with alcohol use problems.

Recommended Adult Immunization Schedule

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Guide to Clinical Preventive Services