Oral

This session will include presentations on diverse current topics in public health. We will begin with a discussion of organizational and policy factors that impact on healthcare safety net capacity to ensure access for low-income and uninsured patients. We will next have a discussion of county-level health status indicators that may become available on-line to facilitate public health planning. This will be followed by a discussion of a regional healthcare data sharing arrangement and analytical tools developed to provide participating hospitals with comparative data and reporting on patient safety, quality, and utilization. Our next presentation will focus on strategies that restaurants may use to reduce use of trans fat in food preparation. We will close with a discussion of how the American Public Health Association organizational structure of sections and affiliates may be used to further our goals and objectives to improve the public health planning and health outcomes.

Session Objectives: At the end of this session, participants will be better able to: • Describe key factors influencing local organizational safety net capacity • Describe how health status indicators can be used for action or planning • Recognize the value of comparative health care reporting at the hospital and community level • Describe three strategies restaurants can use to reduce trans fat use in their establishment • Identify examples of and situations when collaboration between APHA sections and affiliates could contribute to the Association's ability to meet goals and objectives

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing