Access to Quality Health Care for Vulnerable Populations

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Application: Access to Quality Health Care for Vulnerable Populations

Access to quality health care for disparate populations is a critical challenge for today’s health care organizations and for the health care system as a whole. In this Application Assignment, you will describe the advantages and challenges facing the health care system in providing equal access to quality health care.

To prepare for this Application Assignment, consider how health care is delivered to populations who are sometimes affected by theHealthy People assigned focus area you were previously assigned.

To complete this Application Assignment, write a 2- to 3-page paper (essay style) that addresses the following:

  • What two obstacles confront vulnerable/underserved populations when they attempt to obtain quality health care Healthy People assigned focus area(e.g., a prevention program, screening program, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation)? Be specific.
  • Name and describe two intervention programs that have addressed these obstacles (e.g., prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation). You can find examples of these on the internet or by searching the library databases (CINAHL). Try searching with your Healthy People area (i.e. obestiy; heart disease) as a key term as well as the word “intervention” or “program”). You may also try looking at professional organizations that address that health issue. For example, the American Diabetes Association sponsors a program called “Project Power” which addresses diabetes type 2 among African Americans—specifically for church settings.

In your paper, summarize the programs by including the following:

  • The name of the program
  • The type of program (hospital based; for churches; online program, etc.)
  • Who has implemented the program (researchers, professional group, university, state, etc.) and where was it implemented:
    • For example, training programs are sometimes offered by commercial businesses and programs or activities are sometimes sponsored by federal government or professional organizations.
  • The types of services the program provides
  • How the program has addressed disparities
  • The achievements of the program
  • Does it address the issue of culture? How so?
  • Is there any evidence that it has been successful?

Your written assignments must follow APA guidelines (6th edition). Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and additional scholarly sources as appropriate. Refer to the Essential Guide to APA Style for Walden Students to ensure that your in-text citations and reference list are correct. Also, since this is one of your only applications, you may want to submit this to a Walden Writing Center tutor first as well as run it through Turnitin.com prior to submission.

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Media

  • Video: Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Behavioral and cultural issues in health care: Health care disparities. Baltimore, MD: Author.Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 16 minutes.

    The scholars in this video explore various aspects of the health care workforce and their ability to provide quality care. Dr. Joseph Betancourt examines cultural perspectives in health care disparities, Dr. Angela Mickalide describes cultural competence, and Dr. Leonard Jack explores equal assess to quality health care for patients of diverse cultural backgrounds and situations.

    Note: As a reminder, additional Learning Resources for the week are listed below the Media Player. Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the web page to view the complete list of Required and Optional Resources.

◦Why is the problem important for health care administrators to study?

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Definition of the problem ◦What is the problem the study was conducted to resolve?

◦Why is the problem important for health care administrators to study?

•Study purpose: What is the purpose of the study?

•Research question ◦What is the main research question?

◦If it is not stated, what would you say the research question is?

•Hypothesis or hypotheses ◦What is the study hypothesis?

◦If it is not stated, what would you say the hypothesis is?

◦It there is more than one study hypothesis, state the hypothesis or hypotheses.

•Study variables: What are the independent and dependent study variables?

•Review of related literature: In what ways does the literature review support the need for this study?

•Study design ◦What study design is used?

◦How many subjects were studied?

◦Where are the subjects found?

◦What organization was studied?

◦How long did the study take?

The NAACP views childhood obesity as a civil rights issue. One would think that a child’s risk for obesity would be determined by genetic and biological factors. In fact, major disparities exist based on race, ethnicity and socio-economic status. A full 38 percent of Latino children and 34.9 percent of African American children are overweight or obese, compared with 30.7 percent of white children. Simply put, children of color are more likely to live in poor, unsafe communities where there are fewer opportunities for physical activity, higher exposures to harmful environmental factors and limited access to healthy food options.
Childhood obesity is an epidemic in America, especially in America’s communities of color. Over the past 40 years, obesity rates have soared more than four-fold among children ages 6 to 11. Today, 31.8 percent of youth between two and 19 years of age – or 23 million kids – are obese or significantly overweight. If nothing is done, this may be the first generation that will not outlive their parents.

The NAACP views childhood obesity as a civil rights issue. One would think that a child’s risk for obesity would be determined by genetic and biological factors. In fact, major disparities exist based on race, ethnicity and socio-economic status. A full 38 percent of Latino children and 34.9 percent of African American children are overweight or obese, compared with 30.7 percent of white children. Simply put, children of color are more likely to live in poor, unsafe communities where there are fewer opportunities for physical activity, higher exposures to harmful environmental factors and limited access to healthy food options.

The toll this problem is taking on these children and their families, not to mention the nation as a whole, is immense. Psychologically, obese children and adolescents are targets of early and systematic social discrimination, leadingto low self-esteem which, in turn, can hinder academic and social growth and functioning. Physically, it has been proven that obese young people have an 80 percent chance of growing up to be obese adults, putting them at higher risk for associated health problems like diabetes. Financially, these health costs drain families, communities and the nation: people in the United States spend about 9 percent of their total medical costs on obesity-related illnesses, which adds up to as much as $14 billion a year. The NAACP recently unveiled our Childhood Obesity Advocacy Manual, which is designed to provide NAACP units and other grass roots organizations with the tools they need to address the childhood obesity epidemic. The manual provides an advocacy agenda designed to change policies and programs at the local, state and federal levels and to build an effective, community- wide plan to promote healthy behavior in Black families.

Which three areas of the current U.S. health care system would you add to the system you have chosen for the U.S.? Explain why

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The US Healthcare System Compared to Other Countries

The U.S. healthcare system is like no other industrialized country. The U.S. spends more money on health care than any other country yet is criticized for having one of the poorer health systems.

Some countries, such as Canada, Great Britain, and Sweden, follow a socialized system of health care, while others, such as Japan, Germany, and France, have decentralized national health programs.

Both systems have their advantages and disadvantages. 

If you had to decide on one health care system for the U.S., which system would you choose and why?

Which three areas of the current U.S. health care system would you add to the system you have chosen for the U.S.? Explain why.

Justify your answers with appropriate research and reasoning.

Disparities in Health Care Distribution

It is estimated that over 46 million people do not have health insurance coverage in the United States. In addition, many more individuals are underinsured or have such high deductibles and co-pays that they do not even seek medical care. Given this information, the logical question that arises is, should health care coverage be provided to everyone?

“Moreover, Is health care a right or a privilege?” is one of the most debatable topics.What is your viewpoint? Support your answer with examples. There is an unequal distribution of health care system efforts in the U.S. Why do you think this is so, and what can be done about it? Justify your answers with appropriate research and reasoning and comment on the postings of at least two peers regarding why there is an unequal distribution of health care system efforts

List 3 marketing approaches you would use to target potential patients and health care insurance companies.

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following questions with your thoughts, ideas, and comments. This will be the foundation for future discussions by your classmates. Be substantive and clear, and use examples to reinforce your ideas.

 

There are very few industries that have the unique economic factor in which the majority of its revenue does not come directly from the customer, but from a third party. This unique economic factor is usually referred to as a private health care insurance company. Third party payers are the commercial, governmental, and health care maintenance insurance companies that help providers manage its patient’s accounts.

To increase referrals, Krona is beginning to develop a new marketing campaign to target a new patient mix and increase revenues, something that you discussed in your last Individual Project. You have been asked by the chief financial officer (CFO) to collaborate with the marketing director and discuss the importance of having advertising materials for both the health insurance companies and the patients who receive the health care services.

 

  • List 3 marketing approaches you would use to target potential patients and health care insurance companies.

 

  • Explain what factors you used in choosing your specific marketing strategies and the purpose of each selection.

 

  • Find a way to be unique and to add value by bundling services.

 

  • Some marketing strategies may include the following:

 

o    Direct marketing

 

o    Television

 

o    Telemarketing

o    Market to customers and referrals

 

In addition, you recognize that your contribution to the organization would improve if you joined an association for health care management professional. Choose 1 association that you feel would increase your knowledge in finance, auditing, compliance, or other related area, and discuss the benefits that your affiliation with that organization would bring to Krona Hospital. Also, provide a brief history of the organization, and discuss if they offer professional certificatio