public health approach
a community-based approach to mental and physical health in which agencies and organizations focus on enhancing and maintaining the well-being of individuals by ensuring the existence of the conditions necessary for them to lead healthy lives. The approach involves such activities as monitoring community health status; identifying and investigating health problems and threats to community health; ensuring the competency of health care providers and personnel; disseminating accurate information and educating individuals about health issues; developing, modifying, and enforcing policies and other regulatory measures that support community health and safety; and ensuring the accessibility of quality health services. The approach involves various levels of disease and disorder prevention (primary, secondary, tertiary), the expansion and appropriate use of the scientific knowledge base, and the development and utilization of partnerships within and among communities.