Behind the Scenes of the MS Health Department: A Look into Their Daily Operations

Behind the Scenes of the MS Health Department: A Look into Their Daily Operations

As the world grapples with the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, health systems and departments globally continue to garner more attention. In Mississippi, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) has been front and center in this battle against COVID-19. But, what happens behind the scenes at the MSDH on a daily basis? This article takes a peek into the operations of the MSDH, highlighting some of the critical roles the department plays in improving public health outcomes in Mississippi.

Tracking and Monitoring Disease Outbreaks

One of the primary functions of the MSDH is to observe and monitor patterns of disease outbreaks across the state, which includes tracking epidemics and pandemics. With the emergence of COVID-19, the department has been closely following the spread and propagation of the virus. The MSDH tracks the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths resulting from the virus at both state and regional levels.

Importantly, MSDH’s data has been instrumental in guiding policymakers’ decision-making processes at premium levels, including the Supreme Court. Their work has been critical in supplying and analyzing details regarding hospitalization rates, vaccines, and virus rates, influenced Mississippi’s vaccine policy, masking, school mandates, and various other public health protocols that have been put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Promoting and Monitoring Public Health

MSDH is also mandated to promote public health beyond disease monitoring. It is committed to promoting healthful lifestyles, reducing risk behaviors, and minimizing exposure to harmful environmental factors while also providing immunizations and early detection of chronic illness such as diabetes and cancer.

MSDH Officers are trained in identifying occupational and environmental hazards that contribute to conditions such as lead poisoning, asbestos exposure, and ensuring they are addressed in a timely and efficient manner. They have also played an instrumental role in implementing the State Empowerment Zone Initiative (SEZI), a community-wide effort to improve health throughout Mississippi by optimizing the supply chain for healthy foods, improving literacy on healthier food choices, and addressing rising rates of poverty with a community approach.

Partnering with Other Health Providers

As an advocate of improving public health outcomes, MSDH has prioritized working in unison with other health providers and supporting public-private partnerships that are in line with the department’s mission. MSDH has an Inter-Local Agreement with the State of Mississippi providing necessary resources to the Department, including but not limited to, qualified physicians, nurses, and licensed clinical social workers. MSDH also collaborates with the Mississippi Primary Health Care Association (MPHCA) to expand access to care for more Mississippians through clinics designed to serve communities with health care shortages.

Conclusion

The MSDH is oversize operation committed to monitoring health indicators through cutting-edge statistical analysis, delivering a whole community approach to public health initiative, and working in section with public and private health providers to increase access to essential health care services across Mississippi. They prove to be agile and resourceful, ensuring that the public has access to relevant and timely data on the spread of COVID-19 or other infectious communicable diseases, thus enabling better and faster decision-making on policy and personal safety measures. Ultimately, Mississippians owe a debt of gratitude to the personnel at the MSDH for maintaining and enhancing the health and wellness of individuals, families, and communities in Mississippi.