 Overview
Laboratories have
long been part of the foundation of public health practice. In times
of emerging diseases, bioterrorism threats, and natural disasters,
the role of public health laboratories is highly visible, but even
in the absence of these events, these laboratories are essential community
partners in protecting the public's health.
Newborn screening,
environmental monitoring, infectious disease surveillance, and measuring
indicators for chronic diseases are just some of the routine testing
laboratories perform. These services are provided by a system of public
health and clinical laboratories. While systems vary according to state,
these laboratories are linked together locally through community partnerships
and nationally through the Association of Public Health Laboratories
(APHL). Through leadership and communication networks, APHL fosters
continuous quality improvement among these laboratories.
This program will
focus on the laboratory network in the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis/Saint
Paul, Minnesota, and how this system works to strengthen public health
infrastructure to protect and improve the health of the community.
Objectives
- Identify the
role of the public health laboratory in preventing disease,
responding to disasters, and detecting health risks in our environment.
- Describe the relationship
between public health and clinical laboratories.
- Describe three
ways in which strengthening communications and partnerships with
public health laboratories will improve the health of the community.
- Describe the Association
of Public Health Laboratories' (APHL) role in improving laboratory
systems and practice.
- Identify three goals
of the National Center for Public Health Laboratory Leadership.
Audience
For public health
leaders, managers, and professionals from local and state government
agencies, clinical laboratories, boards of health, community organizations,
academic institutions, federal agencies, and others who seek to learn
more about the role of public health and clinical laboratories in protecting
the public's health in times of emerging diseases, natural and man-made
disasters and lifesaving interventions.
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