Moving Upstream - Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit

Health Strategies
Strategies
A Population Health Approach (9) provides the basis for all strategies and
activities undertaken by the Health Unit to contribute to the goals and population
outcomes. This approach looks at the whole population where they live, work,
learn, and play. This is in contrast to the clinical setting where the main focus is on
individuals who come for treatment. The focus is to both maintain and improve
the health status of the population, and also to reduce inequities in health status
among population groups by:
Assessing the health of the population;
Addressing the underlying determinants of health and their interactions;
Basing decisions on evidence;
Using multiple strategies;
Collaborating across multiple sectors;
Involving the public;
Demonstrating accountability.
The Ontario Public Health Standards outline the strategies that are within the
mandate of all public health units:
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Health Promotion and Policy Development:
Develop personal knowledge/skills, create supportive environments,
strengthen community action, reorient health services, and build healthy
public policy (3).
Prevention:
Provide preventive services: education, skill development, access to resources,
screening and referral, immunization, infectious disease follow-up.
Health Protection:
Provide education, inspection, assessment, monitoring and enforcement of
legislation.
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Moving Upstream: 2013-2018 Strategic Plan
Leeds, Grenville & Lanark District Health Unit