COLLABORATE UNIFY HEAL
Better Together:
Why Physicians and Public Health Need Each Other
by Kris Bryant, MD
A local obstetrician diagnosed a pregnant patient with syphilis 1 and because of the national shortage of LA-Bicillin, he was unable to provide treatment in his office. He asked the Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness( LMPHW) Specialty Clinic for help. Recognizing the need to provide prompt treatment to prevent congenital syphilis and the potential burden created by extra clinic visits, LMPHW staff launched a mobile treatment model, taking treatment to the patient at a time and place convenient for her.
A pediatrician evaluated a child for behavioral and learning difficulties and suspected that environmental lead exposure could be part of the problem. When the child’ s blood lead level returned elevated, the pediatrician referred the child’ s family to the LMPHW Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program 2 so that a health specialist could work with them to identify possible sources of lead in and around their home, teach them how to minimize lead hazards and connect them with community resources.
An emergency department physician treated a patient after a dog bite. He reported the bite to LMPHW’ s environmental team and requested guidance about rabies prophylaxis 3 for the patient.
These vignettes represent just a few examples of the ways in which LMPHW works with local physicians to achieve the same goal: helping people live longer, healthier lives. Physicians care for patients one-onone, while public health works to improve the conditions that affect the health of populations and communities. When these efforts are aligned, the result is better health outcomes, stronger preparedness and more effective use of resources.
In Louisville, collaboration between healthcare providers and LMPHW is more important than ever. Our community continues to face challenges including rising rates of congenital syphilis, hepatitis C, substance use disorder, vaccine-preventable diseases, maternal and child health concerns and health inequities that affect access to care. Addressing these issues requires more than any one organization can accomplish alone. It requires collaboration and partnerships.
Many physicians already work closely with LMPHW, often without realizing how broad the partnership can be. Reporting communicable diseases, participating in outbreak investigations and sharing surveillance data help public health professionals identify trends, detect emerging threats and respond quickly when needed. Timely reporting from healthcare providers can mean the difference between containing a disease outbreak and allowing it to spread further into the community. Kentucky’ s public health reporting system depends on strong participation from clinicians.
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