Whose job is it to keep our nation healthy? In today's climate with economic cutbacks, limited resources and extended work responsibilities within all sectors, it seems that everyone agrees that everyone has a role in improving access, quality, and affordability of health care. In addition, every business, membership organization and government agency has the responsibility to provide resources to allow it's members to understand and manage their health care needs. Based on this agreement, it is surprising how challenging it is to integrate disciplines to resolve these very important issues.
Similar to organizations that are decentralized and work in silos to run their businesses, the various areas of health care have been contained within their own space for some time. From public health to school health to health promotion to health technology to health psychology and others, we have evolved within our disciplines over the years, but done a poor job learning from each other and integrating our best practices to afford greater outcomes.
Perhaps the question is not "Whose job is it to keep our nation healthy?" ,but "Who will take the lead in bridging the gaps between health disciplines to ensure the health of our nation improves?" thus far, a single leader has not emerged, but some organizations (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Health Enhancement Research Organization, Health Advocates) are making significant strides in the arena. I commend the leaders working towards a united voice/approach to improve health care quality, access and affordability - many minds working together have always been better than one working alone.
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