Turnock B J, Handler A S, Hall W, Potsic S, Munson J, Vaughn E H
Department of Community Health Services, University of Illinois at Chicago 60612, USA.
Am J Prev Med. 1995 Nov-Dec;11(6 Suppl):41-4.
In 27 state health agencies, local health liaison units or officials (LHLOs) are formally assigned responsibility for fostering a close working relationship between the state health agency and local health departments (LHDs). Yet in most other states, other agency staff carry out these responsibilities informally. Even where formal LHLOs exist, the assigned functions and specific activities vary, with little consistency across states other than serving as a potential or, in most cases, a real and vital linkage between LHDs and the state agency. This linkage places the LHLO in a unique position to have extensive knowledge, data, and information on LHD activities and to play an important role in assessing and improving local public health practice. This report examines aspects of the LHLO-LHD relationship in terms of potential LHLO roles in LHD practice surveillance and capacity building. Surveys of LHLOs and LHDs indicate that both support the development of surveillance tools to measure LHD effectiveness as a means to enhance capacity building efforts. Although LHLOs may not know or have the specific information immediately available to assess local public health practice for LHDs in their state, they report being able to obtain the information if necessary and with sufficient time. Further, LHDs are willing to share information concerning local public health practice with their state health department, particularly with their state LHLO. These findings suggest that LHLOs could be extensively involved in surveillance strategies beyond merely collecting and aggregating information provided by LHDs.
在27个州的卫生机构中，地方卫生联络单位或官员（LHLOs）被正式赋予责任，以促进州卫生机构与地方卫生部门（LHDs）之间建立密切的工作关系。然而，在大多数其他州，其他机构工作人员则非正式地履行这些职责。即使在设有正式LHLOs的地方，所赋予的职能和具体活动也各不相同，除了作为LHDs与州机构之间的潜在联系，在大多数情况下是实际且至关重要的联系之外，各州之间几乎没有一致性。这种联系使LHLO处于独特的地位，能够拥有关于LHD活动的广泛知识、数据和信息，并在评估和改善地方公共卫生实践中发挥重要作用。本报告从LHLO在LHD实践监测和能力建设中的潜在作用方面，审视了LHLO与LHD的关系。对LHLOs和LHDs的调查表明，双方都支持开发监测工具，以衡量LHD的有效性，作为加强能力建设努力的一种手段。尽管LHLOs可能不知道或没有立即可用的具体信息来评估其所在州LHDs的地方公共卫生实践，但他们报告称如有必要且有足够时间，能够获取这些信息。此外，LHDs愿意与州卫生部门，特别是与州LHLO分享有关地方公共卫生实践的信息。这些发现表明，LHLOs可以广泛参与监测策略，而不仅仅是收集和汇总LHDs提供的信息。
