The integration of public health and medicine

President Clinton's American Health Security Act proposes to reform and integrate the medical care and public health service delivery systems. Historically, there have been examples of efforts to integrate public health and medical activities. Yet, while many have acknowledged the inherent value of such an integrated approach to improving health, the fact is that these efforts have had only limited success. The "new deal" President Clinton has proposed for these health institutions is examined in this context. If the notion of integration is taken seriously--that is to mean the extent to which each system's diverse activities complement each other, fitting together to form an integrated whole--then it will not be easy to achieve. Review of the "visions" of public health and medicine and of examples of efforts to integrate public health and medicine in this country suggest five conditions that must be met if successful integration is to be achieved. While the resources necessary to integrate public health and medicine are great, of equal importance is the acceptance of a shared vision of an integrated health care system, and of the respective roles and responsibilities of public health and medical care in that system. The benefits to our nation's health of proceeding in this way, however, are enormous. As we move into the twenty-first century, an integrated system of public health and medical care services is our nation's best hope for not only improving the health of all our citizens, but for closing the "health gap" between socioeconomically disadvantaged groups and the rest of the population.