Assignment: Planning Better Health For Future

Assignment: Planning Better Health For Future
Assignment: Planning Better Health For Future
As a healthcare professional, understanding where to locate evidence-based resources in order to help your patients benefit from that knowledge will be useful in your career. One such resource is The National Center for Health Statistics. The Center has established Healthy People 2020 for tracking the nation’s health. In this assignment, you will begin from the topic you selected and propose a culturally competent, as defined by SAMHSA, community based health program.
Go to the Healthy People 2020 website and find the Topics & Objectives. Once you have located the 42 topic areas discussed on the website, choose a topic in which you are interested.
Write a 1,500-1,750-word paper in which you propose a community health program related to the topic you selected. Include the following in your proposal:
An overview of the program you are proposing. What is it? Who are the population(s) it will serve?
A rationale for the program.
A discussion of how the program will be established as and will remain culturally competent.
A discussion of how the program could be affected if budgetary restraints limited research in that field.
Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide
The US Department of Health and Human Services initiated the Healthy People 2010 project in 2000.
The project’s purpose was to identify crucial areas of healthcare and launch programs to address each one by 2010.
The research identified 28 “Chapters,” or regions of concentration.
Each chapter focused on one of the four areas: goals, objectives, health determinants, and health status (USDHHS, 2010).
People and government bodies cannot always afford to pay for all they want in today’s difficult economic circumstances.
If the government had only enough money to fund ten of the 28 areas of concentration, it would be wise to choose those that would provide the best return on investment in terms of national health.
Programs in preventative medicine have a high return on investment.
A 2009 study found that preventative medical programs in the Boston area returned $36 for every $1 invested, according to Cameron (2009) of Harvard Medical School.
While all of the 28 areas of attention are vital, focusing on preventative medicine initiatives is likely to yield the greatest impact from limited financing.
The Health People 2010 project has seven areas of concentration that are directly related to preventative medicine.
The following are the details:
#5 Diabetic complications
In the United States, diabetes is a major health issue.
The cost of sustaining a treatment program, as well as the potential consequences of blindness or amputation, are equally significant.
Diabetes (particularly Type 2) is highly avoidable, and thorough education in this area could save a lot of money in the long run.
#7 Community-based and educational programs
Community-based health education initiatives are an excellent method to get the word out about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
#14 Infectious Diseases and Immunizations
The importance of proper vaccines and the prevention of infectious disease spread are both critical to overall public health.
#19 Overweight and Nutrition
In today’s society, this is a big (excuse the pun) public health issue.
The total obesity percentage among American adults was 26.7 percent in 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control (Sherry, 2010).
This figure substantially exceeds the Healthy People 2010 target of 15%.
Obesity is linked to a slew of health issues, and lowering it would save the healthcare system a bundle.
Occupational Health and Safety (#20)
Despite a national unemployment rate of nearly 10%, the majority of Americans are employed.
Keeping the workforce safe and healthy has an impact on not only healthcare expenditures, but also productivity and the country’s GDP.
Physical activity and fitness are #22 on the list.
It’s no secret that many Americans lead somewhat sedentary lives.
Unfortunately, this includes children who would rather watch TV, play computer games, or play video games than participate in baseball or other outside sports.
Getting the United States outside and exercising could have a significant impact on public health.
Tobacco Use (#27)
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In recent years, the government has made significant progress in lowering tobacco consumption.
This effort must be maintained with zeal.
Nonsmokers are far healthier than puffers.
The Next Priority is
The overall system of healthcare is the next priority in selecting 10 of the 28 emphasis areas.
Recent improvements in healthcare legislation have started to address the quality and accessibility issues that have plagued our country for years.
These challenges are addressed in three of the 28 emphasis areas.
#1 Availability of High-Quality Medical Services
It’s a shame that the United States isn’t the world leader in universal healthcare.
Many respectable tax-paying residents work in occupations where health insurance is not provided.
Those earning a livable wage cannot afford health insurance and, as a result, are often ineligible for state-funded healthcare programs because they are above the poverty threshold.
Safety of Medical Products #17
The laws that keep pharmaceutical businesses and medical product makers in line with the safest possible standards are an important part of a solid healthcare infrastructure.
#23 Infrastructure for Public Health
Paper forms, records, and files are still used in the healthcare industry, which is one of the few remaining industries that does so.
This is rapidly changing, but the sector must continue to enhance logistical and performance to better serve citizens.
Failure to Meet These Objectives
These ten key areas are likely the most important in enhancing public health of all the 28.
If these ten areas are not addressed, the United States’ citizens should expect to experience a decline in general health and wellness.
One Program Suggestion
A network of free public clinics where individuals could take advantage of wellness programs, routine physicals, and other preventative medicine programs would be a very useful program that would address access to healthcare (#1).
Such programs are available in some hospitals, nonprofit groups, and towns, but they are not widely available.
In terms of public health, the expenditure of such a network would pay off handsomely.