Psychologically-informed public health: A new practice and service paradigm for health departments

The presenter--a public health physician and psychiatrist, and a former health district director and public health preparedness leader at regional and state levels--describes a unique philosophical and organizational paradigm for public health practice and community service. Psychologically-informed public health (PIPH) incorporates relevant principles of individual, group, and communications psychology into a new perspective that can substantially improve the success of operations, services, and programs across a full spectrum of local health department (LHD) functions. For the involved health department, PIPH first emphasizes empathy and the "Golden Rule:" the ability of each staff member to put himself or herself in the “shoes and private world views” of fellow staff, patients treated by the LHD, others who work with the LHD, and all other members of the local public. The following PIPH essentials (all the presenter's concepts except for the last) are then incorporated: “maternalistic public health” and “paternalistic public health;” knowing when to “walk behind, walk beside, and walk ahead;” unbridled and respectful curiousity; the "4 R's of public health risk management;" and grassroots leadership. Examples will be given of how these concepts can be used to make marked improvements to staff morale and cohesiveness, patient safety, the physical environment, collaborative relationships within and outside the health department organization, emergency preparedness, community and prevention programs, health education and training, environmental (health) negotiation, and knowledge/risk communications with the public.