United States Public Health Service

United States Public Health Service (USPHS) is a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) responsible for public health. It contains eight out of the department's eleven operating divisions. The Assistant Secretary for Health oversees the PHS. The Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC) is the federal uniformed service of the USPHS, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States.

History

The origins of the Public Health Service can be traced to the establishment in 1798 of a system of marine hospitals. In 1871 these were consolidated into the Marine Hospital Service, and shortly thereafter the scope of its activities was greatly expanded. The service was renamed the Public Health and Marine Hospital Service in 1902, and became the Public Health Service in 1912.

Organization

The USPHS includes the Office of the Surgeon General, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and the following divisions:

• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
• Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
• Indian Health Service (IHS)
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

Role and responsibilities

The USPHS's main responsibility is to protect, promote, and advance the health and safety of the nation. It is involved in research, disease control and prevention, food and drug regulation, access to health care, and health care delivery.

See also

• United States Department of Health and Human Services
• United States Assistant Secretary for Health
• United States Surgeon General

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