Governor's Column

Get to Know the Division of Public Health By Governor Dave Heineman January 11, 2010 Dear Fellow Nebraskans: One of the key responsibilities of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is to help ensure our state’s nearly 1.8 million people are safe and healthy. This is the mission of the Division of Public Health.The efforts of public health experts over the last century have added 30 years to the life of Nebraskans. In 1900, the average age at death was 48. Today the average life expectancy has reached 78. This is due in part to work to make vaccines available that help us avoid contracting preventable and potentially serious diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, and tetanus. It’s due to educational efforts that encourage Nebraskans to get regular screenings for cancer and other diseases that benefit from early detection. It’s due to continuous surveillance and work to control infectious diseases and food borne illnesses that can quickly sicken large groups of people. It’s due to regulation and enforcement that ensures a well-trained workforce of medical and health care providers.The Division of Public Health is responsible for all of these areas, which requires close collaboration with the range of health care providers, scientists and researchers, federal and local health officials and other public safety experts.In Nebraska, the Public Health staff is responsible for advising businesses on how to comply with the statewide indoor smoking ban, working to address health disparities among minority populations, and developing educational outreach efforts to provide the information that helps Nebraskans live healthier lives. The Division of Public Health ensures the professionals caring for Nebraska residents provide safe, quality care and adhere to the high standards essential to their work by licensing the various practitioners, hospitals and health care facilities, and monitoring services in Nebraska. This ranges from licensing the doctors, dentists and the many professions connected to our health care system, to monitoring drinking water to ensure its safety in our communities, inspecting nursing homes, hospitals and child care centers, and maintaining birth and death records for our state.Led by Dr. Joann Schaefer, who serves as director and Chief Medical Officer for the state, the Division of Public Health also plays an important role in disease surveillance overseeing the testing of the Nebraska Public Health Labs and working with hospitals and local health departments to plan for potential outbreaks and health-related emergencies. The division led the effort to develop mass vaccination plans for Nebraska in the event of a bioterrorism attack, which have been helpful in responding to the current H1N1 pandemic. Because health care providers are on the frontlines of many emergencies, Public Health personnel are a key part of our state emergency response team. Our state emergency plan gives the Chief Medical Officer the responsibility of leading the team responding to H1N1 influenza and other public health emergencies.In addition to her regulatory responsibilities, Dr. Schaefer has made it a personal mission to create a culture of wellness in our state by encouraging Nebraskans to take better care of themselves and their families. By eating properly, getting more rest, exercising regularly and getting regular checkups, we increase our chances of longevity.Our lives are touched every day by public health initiatives, and Nebraskans are healthier and safer because of the excellent work of our public health team.