When looking at the ongoing crisis over safe drinking water in Flint one thing is abundantly clear, the decisions made–at multiple levels–were made without a comprehensive evaluation of the impact on public health.

Karen DeSalvo, Acting Assistant Secretary for Health and National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, and I take a look at the public health approaches  being used to help the residents of Flint react to, and recover from, the consequences of the elevated levels of lead in their drinking water. In our own practices as physicians, we know that a well-rounded care team is crucial. But in public health we tend to deploy this multi-sectorial approach only in response to public health failures rather than using their full potential to improve health outcomes and prevent public health emergencies like we see today in Flint.

We believe now is the time for public health professionals to take on larger, more engaged roles as civic leaders, and for business leaders to invest fully in the health of their communities.

Read more at Forbes: What the Flint Water Crisis Reveals About Public Health