Assessment of Community-Level Barriers

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  1. Barriers to CareSuicide and homicide are violent actions reported in the news daily.  Individuals suffering from abuse, depression, mental disorders, or substance-abuse disorders are at an increased risk for committing suicide or homicide.  Factors that contribute to the risk are age, gender, socio-economic status, and race/ethnicity. Additionally, situations that cause extreme life or job stress, such as those seen when a loved one dies or by military personnel, can contribute to the risk.  Chapter 6 of your course text highlights barriers to care relating to the vulnerable and this population group in particular.  For this discussion:
    • Locate and share statistical data for your community on annual suicide and homicide rates.
    • Identify and briefly describe one organizational barrier and one financial barrier relating to the suicide- and homicide-prone.
    • Create two recommendations on ways each of these barriers can be reduced or eliminated.
    • Identify two local resources available for suicide- or homicide-prone individuals.  Discuss which services are offered and whether the services fully meet the needs of the population.

    Your initial contribution should be 250 to 300 words in length. Your research and claims must be supported by a minimum of two scholarly sources beyond your course text.  Use proper APA formatting for in-text citations and references as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

    Guided Response: Review several of your classmates’ posts.  Provide a substantive response (minimum of 100 words) to at least two of your peers. Contrast your research to your peers’ findings in terms of barriers. Are your peers’ recommendations feasible?

Assignment

To complete the following assignment, go to this week’s Assignment link in the left navigation.

Assessment of Community-Level Barriers

For the second written assignment of the course, you will continue in the design of your proposed model program by demonstrating your understanding of your selected population’s challenges, which negatively impact this group’s health and well-being. Based on this week’s research, conduct an assessment of the barriers, limitations, and other distinguishing features, as they exist within your community.

  • Prepare a recap of the model program for your community that you originally shared in the week 2 written assignment.  As stated in the Week Two directions, changes to the potential program can be made as you research and develop the focus of the program.
  • Analyze and discuss at least three critical barriers that impact the health and well-being of your chosen group; one must be a micro-level (individual) barrier that is financial, one must be a macro-level (community/state) barrier that relates to access and funding for care, and  the third barrier may be one of your choosing.
  • Discuss at least one proposed solution for each barrier. Your solution for the micro barrier must include an analysis of various potential funding options (both independent and integrated). Your solution for the macro barrier must include an analysis of financing resources for health care.
  • Research and analyze the regulatory, legal, ethical, and accreditation requirements and issues for the service(s) offered in your proposed program.  Discuss how each will impact the management of the program.

Your assignment should be a minimum of three pages in length (excluding title and reference pages) and should include a minimum of three scholarly sources cited according to APA guidelines as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center. Please note: All assignments in this course are progressive; therefore you should use the same population selected in your Week Two assignment. The Week Two assignment’s contents do not need to be re-submitted with this assignment.

What public financing resources are available to individuals with this particular mental condition?

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Discussions

To participate in the following discussions, go to this week’s Discussion link in the left navigation.

    1. Cost of Health CareOur health, or the absence of such, can be very expensive. Many vulnerable populations simply do not have private funds available to pay for their care.  Relating your research to individuals with mental conditions, select a mental illness of your choice and discuss your response to the following questions:
      • What public financing resources are available to individuals with this particular mental condition?
      • What are the eligibility requirements and restrictions to receive these funds?
      • What happens if eligibility standards/requirements are not met by those with this illness?
      • Research and discuss two methods of alternative funding for care for this group. What are the benefits and limitations of the methods you discussed?

      Your initial contribution should be 250 to 300 words in length. Your research and claims must be supported by a minimum of two scholarly sources beyond your course text.  Use proper APA formatting for in-text citations and references as outlined in the Ashford Writing Center.

      Guided Response: Review several of your classmates’ posts.  Provide a substantive response (minimum of 100 words) to at least two of your peers. Are there any similarities and/or differences between available sources or alternative options?  If so, please state the reasons why this may be the case.

Analyze various barriers to accessing health services, while researching avenues to reduce or eliminate barriers.

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This week students will:

  1. Analyze the benefits and drawbacks of private and public sources of finance for the care of vulnerable persons.
  2. Propose alternative methods of paying for healthcare for those who are underinsured or uninsured.
  3. Analyze various barriers to accessing health services, while researching avenues to reduce or eliminate barriers.

 

Introduction

Welcome to Week Three! Thus far, we’ve covered a fair amount of ground in our analysis of vulnerable populations. Last week, we explored the continuum of care approach in an effort to better understand the varying health care need levels of vulnerable populations. This week, we will tackle the financial aspects associated with paying for this care; specifically, what payment options exist for vulnerable populations. When public or private funds are unavailable, alternative options may exist for individuals without health insurance. We’ll consider some of these issues as we delve into this week’s discussion forums. Your second written assignment for the course will give you an opportunity to assess barriers to health care access related to your selected group, in addition to considering some options to reduce or eliminate such barriers.

 

Required Resources

Required Text

    1. Burkholder, D. M., & Nash, N. B.  (2013). Special populations in health care.  San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

 

  • Chapter 5: Paying for Health Care
    • This chapter explores funding of health care for vulnerable people.
  • Chapter 6: Accessing Health Care
    • This chapter delves into the barriers in accessing health care.

 

Articles

  1. La Fontaine, J. (2012). Explaining suicide: An afterword. Culture, Medicine & Psychiatry, 36(2), 409-418. doi:10.1007/s11013-012-9256-0
    • The full-text version of this article can be accessed through the EBSCOhost database in the Ashford University Library.
  2. Williams, P. J. (2012). Tragedies in waiting. Nation, 295(9/10),10.
    • The full-text version of this article can be accessed through the EBSCOhost database in the Ashford University Library.

Hypertension/Cardiovascular

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    1. Hypertension/Cardiovascular:

      a. Patients who were hospitalized and discharged alive after an acute Myocardial Infarction (heart attack) who received treatment with beta-blockers for six months

      after discharge.

      b. Patients 18-85 with a diagnosis of hypertension whose most recent blood pressure reading was controlled.

      Age 18-59 whose BP was <140/90

      Age 60-85 with a diagnosis of diabetes whose BP was <140/90

      Age 60-85 without a diagnosis of diabetes whose BP was <150/90

      Smoking Cessation:

      c. Current smokers seen by a physician during the year who were advised to quit, and cessation medications were recommended and discussed. Different

      cessation methods were discussed.

      Weight Assessment:

      d. Patients between the ages of 3-17 who had been examined for body mass index (BMI, received counseling on nutrition. Counseling or referral for physical activity

      or indication physical activity was addressed during an outpatient visit either by a claim or as a medical record entry during the measurement year.

      Mammograms:

      e. Women age 50-74 years, who have had a mammogram during the preceding 24 months. Exclusion of those women who have undergone bilateral mastectomy.

      Prostate Screening:

      f. Male 50 years and greater who have received an annual PSA and/or Digital Rectal Exam.

      Guided Response: Choose two classmates’ posts and respond to the following question: Do you agree or disagree with their choice of CQI Model? Give rationale why you either agree or disagree, and give one example that illustrates your answer. List at least one scholarly source to support your rationale.

 

  1. Mandates and Cost The Department of Health and Human Services has oversight of several agencies (i.e., FDA, CDC, AHRQ, NIH, CMS) that regulate health care in the United States. Regulation encompasses insurance plans, cost, research, safety, all in the name of delivering quality care in a cost effective manner. These agencies are responsible for monitoring compliance and enforcing legislative mandates. However, the debate continues on government regulation and its effect on ensuring quality care. After completing this week’s reading, review the following articles listed below, which were published 11 years apart. Analyze the cost-quality paradigm noted in the articles. Considering the many governmental mandates and regulations to reduce costs and ensure the delivery of quality care that have been implemented over the years, discuss your opinion regarding why costs have continued to rise without improving quality. List two examples that illustrate your point.
    • DHHS Article related to Cost and Quality (2002)
    • Institute of Medicine article (2013)

    Your initial post should be 250-300 words and utilize at least one scholarly source from the Ashford University Library that supports your point. Cite all sources in APA format as outlined in theAshford Writing Center.

    Guided Response: Choose two classmates and respond to this question: Do you agree or disagree with their rationale for the disparity between cost and quality in health care. Explain your answer. List at least one scholarly source that justifies your statements.

 

DQ2

The Department of Health and Human Services has oversight of several agencies (i.e., FDA, CDC, AHRQ, NIH, CMS) that regulate health care in the United States. Regulation encompasses insurance plans, cost, research, safety, all in the name of delivering quality care in a cost effective manner. These agencies are responsible for monitoring compliance and enforcing legislative mandates. However, the debate continues on government regulation and its effect on ensuring quality care. After completing this week’s reading, review the following articles listed below, which were published 11 years apart. Analyze the cost-quality paradigm noted in the articles. Considering the many governmental mandates and regulations to reduce costs and ensure the delivery of quality care that have been implemented over the years, discuss your opinion regarding why costs have continued to rise without improving quality. List two examples that illustrate your point.

  • DHHS Article related to Cost and Quality (2002)
  • Institute of Medicine article (2013)

Your initial post should be 250-300