Synergies between Clinical Medicine and Public Health

Abstract

Public health nursing and community health nursing both involve an understanding of the relation between clinical care and public health (Box 1) [1]. A recent publication has highlighted the synergies between clinical medicine and public health [2]. The present commentary suggests ways in which these synergies may be relevant to the role of those engaged in public health nursing and community health nursing. Many practitioners of public health nursing and community health nursing have previous experience of clinical nursing, or combine work in clinical nursing with public health and community practice, so are well placed to identify, and capitalize on, opportunities to maximize the individual and population health benefits which may arise from closing the gap between nursing care and public health. There is considerable variation between different health systems (and often within individual health systems) in provision of care at primary, secondary and tertiary levels and public health delivery, and between the interactions between nursing care and public health. The opportunities for promoting synergy between nursing care and public health therefore require consideration of care provision and public health delivery in particular contexts.