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Protecting, promoting, and advancing the health
and safety of the Nation
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Objectives

• Define the United States Public Health Service
  (USPHS)
• Discuss the mission and history of the USPHS
• Describe the structure of the USPHS and the role
  of nursing in the USPHS structure
• Discussion Q A

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Who are We?

• The nations foremost health service with
  highly-trained mobile health professionals led by
  the Surgeon General
• A principle component of the Department of Health
  and Human Services (DHHS) dual personnel System
• DHHS consists of approximately
• 64,750 employees total
• 6,500 Commissioned Corps Officers

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Seven Uniformed Services of the U.S.
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(No Transcript)
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Vice Admiral Regina Benjamin MD, MBA
18th Surgeon General of the United States
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USPHS Mission

• To protect, promote, and advance the
• health and safety of the Nation through
• Rapid and effective response to public health
  needs
• Leadership and excellence in public health
  practices
• Advancement of public health science

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Our Origins

• 1798 Act for Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen
  signed to provide care for merchant seaman and
  US Navy
• 1870 Reorganization to create a Marine Hospital
  Service
• 1889 Formalized as the Commissioned Corps
• 1912 Renamed Public Health Service
• 1939 Became part of the Federal Security Agency
• 1980 Became part of the Department of Health
  and Human Services

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USPHS Seal

• Fouled Anchor seaman in distress
• Caduceus (winged wand with 2 serpents intertwined)

Used to symbolize trade or commerce (PHS
relationship with merchant seaman and maritime
industry) Later became symbol of medicine
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USPHS Flag

• Evolved out of the quarantine flag used by the
  Service on quarantine vessels and stations
• Blue and yellow colors of the PHS represent its
  roots in maritime and quarantine activities

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USPHS Categories

• Environmental health officer
• Mental health specialist,
• Health services officer
• Scientist/researcher
• Therapist
• Veterinarian

• Physician
• Dentist
• Nurse
• Pharmacist
• Dietitian
• Engineer

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Where USPHS Officers Serve

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Food and Drug Administration
• Health Resources and Services Administration
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

• Indian Health Service
• National Institutes of Health
• Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health
• Office of the Secretary
• Program Support Center
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
  Administration
• Office of the Assistant Secretary for
  Preparedness and Response

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Where USPHS Officers Serve

• U.S. Department of Agriculture
• U.S. Department of Defense
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE) Health
  Service Corps
• U.S. Coast Guard
• U.S. Marshals Service

• District of Columbia Commission on Mental Health
  Services
• Environmental Protection Agency
• Federal Bureau of Prisons
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• National Park Service

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Duty Locations Coast to Coast
Arizona
Washington
Washington DC
New Mexico
South Dakota
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USPHS Deployment Teams
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USPHS - Missions of the Past

• 2005
• - Hurricane Relief for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita,
  and Wilma
• 2004
• Hurricane Relief in Florida for Hurricanes
  Charlie, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne
• 2002
• Back fill for pharmacists at National Naval
  Medical Center in Bethesda, MD
• 2001
• Mass Medication Distribution for Anthrax
  Prophylaxis following September 11th, 2001

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USPHS - Above and Beyond

• USPHS Officers have volunteered to serve overseas
  in assisting foreign Ministry of Health
  departments to establish health care systems
• Thailand (2005)
• Iraq (2004)
• Haiti (2004)

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Resources

• Overview of DHHS http//www.hhs.gov/about/whatwe
  do.html
• USPHS Student Opportunities http//www.usphs.gov
  /student/
• Contact Information
• CDR Tammie Howard
• Tammie.howard_at_fda.hhs.gov
• 301-796-1409

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QUESTIONS?
www.USPHS.GOV 800.279.1605