“Protecting, promoting, and advancing the health and safety of the Nation”

1. “Protecting, promoting, and advancing the health and safety of the Nation”

2. 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

3. Who are We? • The nation’s foremost health service with highly-trained mobile health professionals led by the Surgeon General • A principle component of the Department of Health and Human Service’s (DHHS) dual personnel System • DHHS consists of approximately: • 64,750 employees total • 6,500 Commissioned Corps Officers

4. Seven Uniformed Services of the U.S.

6. Vice Admiral Regina Benjamin MD, MBA 18th Surgeon General of the United States

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. Physician Dentist Nurse Pharmacist Dietitian Engineer Environmental health officer Mental health specialist, Health services officer Scientist/researcher Therapist Veterinarian USPHS Categories

12. 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 Where USPHS Officers Serve

13. District of Columbia Commission on Mental Health Services Environmental Protection Agency Federal Bureau of Prisons National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Park Service 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 Where USPHS Officers Serve

14. Duty Locations Coast to Coast Arizona Washington Washington DC New Mexico South Dakota

15. USPHS Deployment Teams

16. 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

17. 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)

18. Resources • Overview of DHHS: http://www.hhs.gov/about/whatwedo.html • USPHS Student Opportunities: http://www.usphs.gov/student/ • Contact Information: • CDR Tammie Howard • Tammie.howard@fda.hhs.gov • 301-796-1409

19. QUESTIONS? www.USPHS.GOV 800.279.1605