The Boston Public Health Commission, the oldest health department in the United States, is an independent public agency providing a wide range of health services and programs. It is governed by a seven-member board of health appointed by the

Mayor of Boston The mayor of Boston is the head of the municipal government in Boston, Massachusetts. Boston has a mayor–council government. Boston's mayoral elections are nonpartisan (as are all municipal elections in Boston), and elect a mayor to a four ...

. Its mission is to "protect, preserve, and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, particularly those who are most vulnerable."Home page
. ''Boston Public Health Commission''. Retrieved on April 16, 2009. The commission is headquartered at 1010 Massachusetts Avenue in Boston.

History

In 1799, The Boston Board of Health was established to combat any potential

cholera Cholera is an infection of the small intestine by some strains of the bacterium '' Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea that lasts a few days. Vomiting an ...

outbreaks.

Paul Revere Paul Revere (; December 21, 1734 O.S. (January 1, 1735 N.S.)May 10, 1818) was an American silversmith, engraver, early industrialist, Sons of Liberty member, and Patriot and Founding Father. He is best known for his midnight ride to a ...

was Boston's first health commissioner.BPHC History
." ''Boston Public Health Commission''. Retrieved on April 16, 2009. In 1864 the Boston City Hospital opened, managed by the board. The Boston Public Health Act of 1995 caused the organization of the current commission. In 1996, the modern Boston Public Health Commission opened after the

Boston City Hospital The Boston City Hospital (1864–1996), in Boston, Massachusetts, was a public hospital, located in the South End. It was "intended for the use and comfort of poor patients, to whom medical care will be provided at the expense of the city, and . ...

(founded 1864) and Boston University Hospital (founded 1855) were merged into the

Boston Medical Center Boston Medical Center (BMC) is a non-profit 514-bed academic medical center in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest safety-net hospital and Level I trauma center in New England. BMC employs 1,466 physicians—including 711 residents and f ...

. This was the first full merger in the United States of a public hospital with a private academic medical center and its hospital.

Organization

The Boston Public Health Commission is formed up of six different bureaus: * Child, Adolescent, and Family Health * Community Initiatives * Emergency Medical Services & Public Health Preparedness * Homeless Services * Infectious Disease * Recovery Services In total there are forty different programs, including Boston' Emergency Medical Services and Homeless Shelters. Boston Board of Health Could inspect stores, vessels, factories, and houses for health hazards. Had the power to levy fines and require the offender to remove a hazard at his own expense. Safety of workers generally considered to be their own responsibility, not that of the employer. Insurance carriers covered property, not people.

Tobacco Regulation

In 2008, the BPHC banned the sale of " blunt wraps," tobacco-leaf papers that are used to make

marijuana Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant. Native to Central or South Asia, the cannabis plant has been used as a drug for both recreational and entheogenic purposes and in various t ...

cigarette A cigarette is a narrow cylinder containing a combustible material, typically tobacco, that is rolled into thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end, causing it to smolder; the resulting smoke is orally inhaled via the opp ...

s, in Boston. In April 2009 a Massachusetts judge upheld the ban.News Notes
." ''

Bay State Banner The ''Bay State Banner'' is an independent newspaper primarily geared toward the readership interests of the African-American community in Boston, Massachusetts. The ''Bay State Banner'' was founded in 1965 by Melvin B. Miller who remains the ch ...

'' April 2, 2009. Retrieved on April 17, 2009.

References

External links

Boston Public Health Commission on Facebook

Boston Public Health Commission on YouTube

Boston Public Health Commission on Twitter

Boston Public Health Commission

Boston Public Health Commission
- City of Boston {{Authority control Government of Boston 1799 establishments in Massachusetts