Description
The exercise from week one is below
Examine concepts of epidemiology and suggest improvements in policy, prevention, and/or promotion.
Apply evidence-based principles to critically evaluate federal and state policies and practices in healthcare delivery and public health systems.
Apply evidence-based principles to evaluate healthcare reforms such as the Affordable Care Act.
Explain competencies in healthcare quality, access, cost, and how they interrelate.
Explain how generational trends impact the delivery of healthcare.
Note: This is text from Module 1, where this project was introduced. It is repeated here for your convenience.
Imagine that you and other healthcare management professionals have come together over your common concern about inequities you have observed in healthcare. You and like-minded colleagues have met to discuss what might be done to effectuate some change toward improvement in healthcare for vulnerable populations.
After a couple of informal discussions, you all agree that the best place to start is to identify and describe inequities you have witnessed over weeks, months, and sometimes years, provide support for your position, and present this information to local and state officials. Your goal is to meet with officials and present in person your observations of inequities and recommendations for reform.
The group of colleagues has accepted your offer to gather information described above into a report. Three other colleagues have volunteered to do the same. You will share your findings and, in a future meeting, you will all select the three items of most pressing importance among those shared. Your task here, then, is to select three healthcare inequities of a vulnerable population, gather information about the population and the inequities, underscore the gravity of the situation in relation to your area of healthcare, justify their importance, and share your report with the group. You will also present the inequities in terms of cost, quality, and access. Together, the group will select the top three items to bring to the attention of local and state officials.
Action Items
Create a presentation that you would feel ready to share with your colleagues. Include the main points from your report.
Use high-quality images, graphs, and graphics to tell the story of your research and recommendations. Avoid lots of text in your presentation.
Use a professional-looking color scheme and template. Follow professional recommendations for the use of white space, fonts, etc.
Practice your presentation sufficiently so that you know it well and can avoid “ums” and the monotone of reading a script.
Anticipate questions and be ready to answer any that are asked of you.
Exercise from week 1
Vulnerable Population: Diabetics in rural Kentucky.
Description of the Population:
Compared to their metropolitan counterparts, diabetics in rural Kentucky confront difficulties. They are especially at risk due to a combination of geographic isolation, financial constraints, a lack of healthcare options, and a lack of educational resources (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019).
Vulnerability Factors:
Geographic Isolation: Rural locations often mean longer travel times to clinics or hospitals.
Economic Barriers: The higher poverty rates in rural Kentucky pose challenges in affording care and medications (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019).
Limited Healthcare Facilities: Fewer medical facilities mean limited access to specialized diabetic care.
Lack of Awareness and Education: Reduced resources for diabetes education can lead to suboptimal disease management.
Reputable Source:
According to the CDC, access to care is often difficult in rural areas of the United States, including parts of Kentucky (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017).
Healthcare Elements: Quality and Access.
Quality:
Improving care quality can be addressed by:
Telemedicine: Telehealth provides specialized consultation for remote patients, ensuring they receive high-quality care (Kruse et al., 2017).
Training Local Care Providers: Up-to-date training for local care providers enhances overall patient care (Institute of Medicine, 2010).
Access:
Strategies to improve access include:
Mobile Clinics: Mobile clinics offer periodic specialized care in rural areas (Gamm et al., 2003).
Community Health Workers: These individuals bridge the healthcare gap in rural areas, aiding in early detection, education, and diabetes management (Allen et al., 2016).
References:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2017). Diabetes in Rural America.
Gamm, L., Hutchison, L., Dabney, B., & Dorsey, A. (Eds.). (2003). Rural Healthy People 2010: A Companion Document to Healthy People 2010 (Vol. 1). Texas A&M University System Health Science Center, School of Rural Public Health, Southwest Rural Health Research Center.
Institute of Medicine. (2010). Redesigning Continuing Education in the Health Professions. National Academies Press.
Kruse, C. S., Krowski, N., Rodriguez, B., Tran, L., Vela, J., & Brooks, M. (2017). Telehealth and patient satisfaction: A systematic review and narrative analysis. BMJ open, 7(8), e016242.
Allen, C. G., Brownstein, J. N., Satsangi, A., & Escoffery, C. (2016). Community Health Workers as Allies in Hypertension Self-Management and Medication Adherence in the United States, 2014. Preventing Chronic Disease, 13, E179.
U.S. Census Bureau. (2019). Poverty Rates by County in Kentucky.
