Clean water, Sanitation, and safe workplaces.
These everyday protections we take for granted didn’t happen overnight. They are the result of people working together to make sure their friends and neighbors stay healthy.
National public health protects families, strengthens communities and creates workplaces that were safer and more productive.
Key Moments That Changed Health Forever
Public health was created to help prevent diseases that shortened life spans and made daily living less than ideal. Early discoveries began making impacts that kept people safe.
- Ancient Romans understood the value of clean water.
- During the Middle Ages, communities used quarantine to slow the spread of deadly diseases.
- By 1796, the first vaccine helped change the course of history by reducing the effects of smallpox.
- Germs and the way they spread illnesses were discovered.
How American Public Health Began
When the first public health system in the United States was created as the Marine Hospital Service in the United States in 1798, the primary role was to care for sick and injured sailors.
The Service managed quarantines of people who had been at sea to help prevent the spread of contagious diseases – those like the flu or common cold that can be passed from one person to another. Eventually, public health grew to include the basic wellness and safety of all Americans.
Impact In Rural Areas
Public health efforts developed hospitals and care for people living in remote areas. It guaranteed that access to health care was available for those living in cities and along country roads. Those efforts continue today. Community health centers are committed to providing affordable, accessible care to anyone who needs it – no matter the address.
Why Public Health Still Matters
Today, public health professionals work every day to make sure the communities where they live and work are strong.
It recognizes the benefits of:
- Preventive measures like regular wellness checkups.
- Age-appropriate vaccines that keep dangerous diseases under control.
- Managing ongoing chronic conditions so patients lead long, healthy lives.
- Reaching out to a health care provider when something doesn’t feel right.
We recognize and are grateful for our Horizon Health staff providing medical, dental and behavioral health care to help Care for Our Way of Life!
If it’s been a while since your last checkup, consider this your reminder – it matters.
Whether you need medical, dental, or behavioral health services, our team is here to help you stay on track and feel your best.
We’re here for the long haul—caring for our communities, and the way of life we share.