PHS Agencies: Supporting and Providing Public Health Services

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The Public Health Service (PHS) was established by the Public Health Service Act of 1944 “to promote the coordination of research, investigations, experiments, demonstrations, and studies relating to the causes, diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention of physical and mental diseases…”

PHS administers eight (8) agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). These agencies exist to provide and support essential public health services like assuring an adequate local public health infrastructure, promoting healthy behaviors and healthy communities, and diagnosing, preventing, and treating physical and mental diseases.

PHS Agency

Primary Function

Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

 

Conducts and supports
research on the quality and effectiveness of health care services and systems

Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry (ATSDR)

Investigates the public
health impact of exposure to hazardous substances

Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

 

Supports community-based
programs to promote quality of life and to prevent the leading causes of disease,
injury, disability, and death

Food
and Drug Administration (FDA)

 

Ensures the safety of
foods, dietary supplements, and cosmetics and the safety and effectiveness of
drugs, vaccines, medical devices, and other health products

Health
Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

 

Provides health care
services or support systems that deliver health care services

Indian
Health Service (IHS)

 

Supports health care
delivery systems for Indigenous peoples

National
Institutes of Health (NIH)

 

Conducts and supports
basic, clinical, and translational medical research

Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)

 

Provides health care
services or support systems that deliver health care services

Each PHS agency has a unique mission related to the core objective of providing and supporting public health services, and CSU investigators have received support from six (6) of the eight (8) PHS agencies in the last six (6) years (excluding ATSDR and IHS).

In order to design, conduct, or report on sponsored activities supported by a PHS agency, investigators must complete training and maintain training at least every four (4) years on Financial Conflict of Interest (FCOI).

For more on the PHS FCOI training requirements, visit ‘PHS FCOI Training Requirements’ on the OSP Guidance webpage.

 

Information directly sourced from ‘Public Health Service Agencies: Overview and Funding (FY2016-FY2018). https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/R44916.html#_Toc490644998

 

Blog post by Tricia Callahan, Senior Research Education and Information Officer, Office of Sponsored Programs

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