RWJF Proposes Considerations to Enhance Public Health

The COVID-19 pandemic was a significant turning point in public health in the United States. When the pandemic began, providers and healthcare facilities were hit hard with waves of illness. On top of the rates of COVID infection, navigating an unknown disease, and developing new treatment and diagnostic methods, the healthcare industry struggled to address pre-existing health equity issues exacerbated by the pandemic. While the pandemic was (and continues to be) devastating for many, it elucidated many public health issues and the need to address them. In a recent brief, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) — in line with the CDC — announced five public health considerations to enhance public health.

Two of these considerations include vision, leadership, and governance as well as people and culture. A well-rounded and diverse public health workforce and leadership may bring additional insight and preparedness. RWJF advocates efforts to enhance the workforce, strategies, culture, policies, and structures through leadership and governance.

Another proposed consideration is developing partnerships and trusts. As seen during the COVID pandemic, collaboration between public health organizations is critical for expanding access to care, developing treatment and prevention strategies, and disseminating educational information. RWJF suggests that the CDC partner with organizations to build a decentralized action model.

Alongside collaboration, RWJF recommends standardizing data collection and sharing to allow for improved research that reflects all communities.

RWJF also urges public and private organizations to consider their communication and narratives when sharing public health information. Vaccine misinformation was a significant deterrent for achieving herd immunity throughout the pandemic. Recommendations include making information from the CDC accessible, equitable, and tailored to multiple audiences.

“The COVID-19 pandemic revealed important opportunities for us to repair trust and strengthen our public health system,” said Richard Besser, MD, president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, who served as acting director of the CDC in 2009, in the RWJF article. “A fragile public health system puts everyone at risk. If we build a public health system focused on equity, all people will have the opportunity to thrive regardless of who they are, where they live, or how much money they have.”