NUR 4244 – Deliverable 1 – Public Health Nursing Presentation Describe the foundations of public and community health nursing.

NUR 4244 – Deliverable 1 – Public Health Nursing Presentation

The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) was established in 1996 by the Florida Legislature, and in 2007, it was established that a State Surgeon General was to serve as the head of the department as the State Health Officer (Florida Department of Health, 2020). The FDOH is a department of the executive branch. The Florida Governor appoints the State Surgeon General and is confirmed by the Florida State Senate (Florida Department of Health, 2020). The State Surgeon General has to be a physician with extensive training and experience in public health administration (Florida Department of Health, 2021). They serve as the department’s chief administrator.

Beneath the State Surgeon General is the Chief of Staff and General Counsel. The Chief of staff is responsible for legislative planning and communications (Florida Department of Health, 2021). The General Counsel is broken down into units and is responsible for equal opportunity, county health departments, prosecution services, and the state health office (Florida Department of Health, 2021). Under those leaders, the department is organized into seven divisions.

The Administration division is responsible for finance, accounting, purchasing, construction, safety, records management, developing policies and procedures, payroll, labor relations, and human resources (Florida Department of Health, 2021). The Division of Emergency Preparedness and Community Support is responsible for strengthening and supporting the health system during emergencies through education, providing care models and plans, and providing goods and services (Florida Department of Health, 2021). The Division of Disease Control and Health Protection is responsible for preventing, controlling, and protecting the state’s citizens from disease through communicable disease prevention and surveillance, preventing diseases from the environment through water and sewage programs, and providing laboratory services (Florida Department of Health, 2021).

NUR 4244 – Deliverable 1 – Public Health Nursing Presentation

The Division of Community Health Promotion promotes healthy choices through the Child Care Food Program, preventing and reducing chronic disease, providing family health services, stopping tobacco use, and conducting research (Florida Department of Health, 2021). The Division of Children’s Medical Services provides health care to children who require special health care and are at risk of long-term health problems (Florida Department of Health, 2021). The Division of Public Health Statistics and Performance Management is in charge of monitoring data, analysis, quality improvement, and planning to improve health (Florida Department of Health, 2021). The Division of Medical Quality Assurance performs inspections, investigations, and licensure of healthcare practitioners and facilities (Florida Department of Health, 2021).

The Florida Department of Health’s website provides its residents with a wide variety of resources and important updates. The FDOH website is http://www.floridahealth.gov/.

References

Florida Department of Health. (2020, November 24). About us. https://www.floridahealth.gov/about/index.html