RT Journal
A1 Jacobson PD, Gostin LO
T1 REstoring health to health reform
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2010
FD July 7
VO 304
IS 1
SP 85
OP 86
DO 10.1001/jama.2010.917
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.917
AB 
The public health system is badly frayed and needs to be rebuilt structurally and redesigned conceptually.1- 3 Public health departments lack modern information technology, surveillance capacity, a well-trained workforce, and a clear vision of their essential role. Their organizational structure has barely changed, with some states having literally hundreds of dysfunctional local departments. Leadership is needed to define the optimal mission, size, scale, and geographic area of local departments; the skills required of public health professionals; the services that must remain a governmental responsibility; and the relative roles of local, state, and federal agencies.