Assignment: Global Healthcare Comparison Matrix and Narrative Statement

Assignment: Global Healthcare Comparison Matrix and Narrative Statement

Assignment: Global Healthcare Comparison Matrix and Narrative Statement

Global Health Care

Part 1

	United States Response to HIV/AIDS	Kenya Response to HIV/AIDS
National Health Policy	One of the federal policies that have been adopted in the US is the National HIV/AIDS strategy for the United States. It is an action plan that federal governments should adopt. The action plan provides guidance on a number of issues related to HIV/AIDS in America. They include strategies to reduce new infections, increase access to care by the affected, improving outcomes of care for the patients, reducing disparities and inequities in access to care by the affected, and promoting a highly effective coordination of the state’s response to the epidemic (The White House Washington, 2015).	One of the policies that Kenya has adopted in response to HIV/AIDS is the Kenya AIDs strategic framework 2014/2015-2018/2019. The framework provides closely related guidelines to that of the US on issues related to HIV/AIDs. They include the strategies for reducing new infections; enhancing health outcomes of the patients, utilizing human rights based approach in increasing access to services, strengthening community integration and health systems, strengthening research and innovation to meet goals of the framework, and enhancing utilization of evidence to improve outcomes of the affected (National AIDS Control Council 2014).
Strengths and weaknesses of each of the policies	One of the strengths of the above policy is its focus on the utilization of the existing resources in the state to address the endemic. There is also the focus on the promotion of equity in access to services by the affected patients. There is also the increased focus on the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration for the goals of the policy to be achieved. One of the weaknesses of the policy is its minimal emphasis on the active role of the healthcare providers in achieving the goals of the policy. Minimal focus has also been placed on the importance of research and innovation in the realization of the goals of the policy.	One of the strengths of the above policy is its focus on community integration into the implementation of strategies to achieve the outcomes of the policy. There is also a strong focus on the need for research and innovation to facilitate evidence-based practice in caring for the affected patients. The framework however has the weakness of failing to identify the critical national and local resources that are needed for the success of the policy.
Effects of Social Determinants of Health	Determinants of health such as employment status influence one’s ability to afford high quality care. It also influences one’s health insurance coverage. Factors such as the level of education also influences uptake of existing services for HIV/AIDs. Other factors such as age influence the uptake of HIV/AIDs related services as elderly experience challenges in utilizing them due to low socioeconomic status (Kelley, 2020).
Addressing Cost, Quality, and Access to HIV/AIDs care	Access to HIV/AIDS-related care and services has been improved through provision of free testing and treatment of the disease. There is also expanded health insurance coverage for patients with HIV/AIDs. Quality has been achieved through the utilization of evidence-based practices.	The issue of cost has been addressed by providing HIV/AIDs services such as testing and treatment for free. Healthcare providers receive continuous training to improve the safety and quality of care. The policy also encourages research, innovation, and evidence-based practice to improve the quality of care. Access has been achieved through decentralization of the provision of HIV/AIDs-related services to the lowest levels of healthcare in the country.
Impact on health of global population	It increases access, affordability and utilization of HIV/AIDs related services. It also improves the quality of care offered to the affected patients. It also reduces the disease prevalence globally. It normalizes the disease by addressing issues such as stigmatization of HIV/AIDs patients.
Impact on the role of the nurse	Nurses have the role of reducing the disease prevalence through health education for the public. Nurses also advocate the realization of equity goals of care for the patients. Nurses have to utilize evidence-based practices to improve the outcomes of care for the patients.	Nurses have to focus on collaborating with other healthcare providers to improve outcomes of care. They have to engage in researches to identify innovative, evidence-based practices to improve outcomes of care. They also have to advocate for the adoption of interventions that address disparities in access and utilization of healthcare services.
Impact on Local Health Issues	The policy increases the need for inter-organizational collaboration in addressing issues related to HIV/AIDs. It also strengthens the need for community involvement in issues related to HIV/AIDs.	Local organizations have been encouraged to support initiatives that improve outcomes of care for HIV/AIDs patients.

If you talk about a possible poor health outcome, do you believe that outcome will occur? Do you believe eye contact and personal contact should be avoided?

You would have a difficult time practicing as a nurse if you believed these to be true. But they are very real beliefs in some cultures.

Differences in cultural beliefs, subcultures, religion, ethnic customs, dietary customs, language, and a host of other factors contribute to the complex environment that surrounds global healthcare issues. Failure to understand and account for these differences can create a gulf between practitioners and the public they serve.

In this Assignment, you will examine a global health issue and consider the approach to this issue by the United States and by one other country.

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To Prepare:

• Review the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global health agenda and select one global health issue to focus on for this Assignment.  Global health issue I select is STDs ( Sexual Transmitted Disease)
• Select at least one additional country to compare to the U.S. for this Assignment. one additional country is Australia.
• Reflect on how the global health issue you selected is approached in the U.S. and in the additional country you selected.
• Review and download the Global Health Comparison Matrix provided in the Resources.

The Assignment: (1- to 2-page Global Health Comparison Matrix; 1-page Plan for Social Change)

Part 1: Global Health Comparison Matrix

Focusing on the country you selected and the U.S., complete the Global Health Comparison Matrix. Be sure to address the following:

• Consider the U.S. national/federal health policies that have been adapted for the global health issue you selected from the WHO global health agenda. Compare these policies to the additionalcountry you selected for study.

Part 1: Global Health Comparison Matrix

 

Global Healthcare Issue	Communicable Diseases
Description	Communicable diseases, also known as infectious diseases, are illnesses caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites that can be transmitted from one person to another, either directly or indirectly. These diseases can spread through different modes of transmission, including respiratory droplets, bodily fluids, contaminated food or water, and insect bites. Common examples of communicable diseases include influenza, tuberculosis, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19.
Country	United States	Nigeria
Describe the policy in each country related to the identified healthcare issue	In the United States, the national health policies that have been adapted for communicable diseases include the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (CARB) and the National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan. The CARB plan aims to address antibiotic resistance by improving the prevention and control of infections, strengthening national One Health surveillance efforts, and promoting the development of new diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines. The National Viral Hepatitis Action Plan focuses on the prevention, screening, care, and treatment of viral hepatitis, including hepatitis A, B, and C.	In Nigeria, the national health policies that have been adapted for communicable diseases include the National Strategic Health Development Plan II and the National Health Policy. The National Strategic Health Development Plan II aims to improve the health of Nigerians by strengthening the health system, improving access to quality health services, and addressing communicable and non-communicable diseases. The National Health Policy focuses on promoting the health of Nigerians by addressing the determinants of health, improving access to health services, and strengthening the health system.

• Explain the strengths and weaknesses of each policy.
• Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the global health issue you selected. Be specific and provide examples.
• Using the WHO’s Organization’s global health agenda as well as the results of your own research, analyze how each country’s government addresses cost, quality, and access to the global health issue selected.
• Explain how the health policy you selected might impact the health of the global population. Be specific and provide examples.
• Explain how the health policy you selected might impact the role of the nurse in each country.
• Explain how global health issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies in both countries. Be specific and provide examples.

Part 2: A Plan for Social Change

Reflect on the global health policy comparison and analysis you conducted in Part 1 of the Assignment and the impact that global health issues may have on the world, the U.S., your community, as well as your practice as a nurse leader.

In a 1-page response, create a plan for social change that incorporates a global perspective or lens into your local practice and role as a nurse leader.

• Explain how you would advocate for the incorporation of a global perspective or lens into your local practice and role as a nurse leader.
• Explain how the incorporation of a global perspective or lens might impact your local practice and role as a nurse leader.
• Explain how the incorporation of a global perspective or lens into your local practice as a nurse leader represents and contributes to social change. Be specific and provide examples.

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Global Health Comparison Grid Template

Use this document to complete the Module 6 Assessment Global Healthcare Comparison Matrix and Narrative Statement

Global Healthcare Issue
Description
Country	United States
Describe the policy in each country related to the identified healthcare issue
What are the strengths of this policy?
What are the weaknesses of this policy?
Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the specified global health issue. (Be specific and provide examples)
How has each country’ government addressed cost, quality, and access to the selected global health issue?
How has the identified health policy impacted the health of the global population? (Be specific and provide examples)
Describe the potential impact of the identified health policy on the role of nurse in each country.
Explain how global health issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies in both countries. (Be specific and provide examples)
General Notes/Comments

Global Health Comparison

Grid Template

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been actively involved in promoting and protecting the health of populations globally. Thus, WHO interventions focus on all areas of the global healthcare spectrum to address global health issues. Global health issues usually necessitate worldwide cooperation in response, planning, prevention, preparedness, and management that display health equity issues among countries (Da Silva Fagundes et al.,2018). The purpose of this paper is to discuss a global health issue and health policies enacted to address the issue in the US versus Australia.

Global Healthcare Issue	Access to COVID-19 tests, medicines, and vaccines
Description	Any Covid-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines developed should benefit the whole world. Equitable access to Covid-19 tests, medicines, and vaccines means that: They are available to people who need them most.They have suitable options for all healthcare settings.Safe and effective options are accessed by all groups of people.They are affordable to low- and high-income countries alike.
Country	United States	Australia
Describe the policy in each country related to the identified healthcare issue	The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.The policy requires group health plans and individual health insurance policies to cover any qualifying COVID-19 preventive service, without cost-sharing. The policy also adds that COVID-19 tests are to be covered without cost-sharing by private insurance and Medicare, even if that test is yet to receive FDA emergency use authorization (Moss et al., 2020).Medicaid must also cover COVID tests regardless of whether they are authorized for emergency use by the FDA.	Australian COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. The policy states that the COVID-19 vaccine will be free for all Medicare-eligible Australians and all visa-holders, excluding visa sub-classes. When COVID-19 vaccines are available, supplies will initially be limited and directed toward priority groups for vaccination (Attwell et al., 2021).
What are the strengths of this policy?	The policy expands Medicaid coverage and increases access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines to US citizens.	The policy supports early access to and delivery of safe and effective COVID-19 treatments and vaccines as soon as they become available (Attwell et al., 2021).
What are the weaknesses of this policy?	The policy does not consider individuals without health insurance or have a provision to increase access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines for the uninsured (Moss et al., 2020).	The policy requires mandatory vaccination for a majority of occupations and workforces, which is against individuals’ right to autonomy (Attwell et al., 2021).
Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the specified global health issue. (Be specific and provide examples)	Individuals with limited access to healthcare due to lack of insurance may lack access to COVID-19 tests, medications, and vaccines.Thus, they may experience poor health outcomes due to delayed diagnosis and treatment or lack of vaccination (Paremoer et al., 2021).	Individuals with limited access to healthcare due to lack of insurance may lack access to COVID-19 tests, medications, and vaccines (Paremoer et al., 2021). Thus, they may experience poor health outcomes due to delayed diagnosis and treatment or lack of vaccination.
How has each country government addressed cost, quality, and access to the selected global health issue?	The US provides consumer protections on balance billing for COVID-19 tests.The government has increased some Medicare payments for treating patients with COVID-19 (Lukens et al., 2022).It increases access by requiring coverage of any COVID-19 vaccine without cost-sharing.	The Australian government has given a directive that charges should not be levied on consumers for COVID-19 immunization (Attwell et al., 2021).
How has the identified health policy impacted the health of the global population? (Be specific and provide examples)	The health policy has increased access to healthcare for COVID-19 patients.The policy successfully improved access to critical services, prevented coverage loss, increased continuity of coverage, and made coverage more affordable when Americans needed it most.	The policy promoted equity in access to COVID-19 treatments and vaccines.Thus, the people who needed the vaccines most, such as healthcare workers and vulnerable populations, received the vaccine first.
Describe the potential impact of the identified health policy on the role of nurse in each country.	The nurse has the role of ensuring that individuals are tested for COVID-19 and receive appropriate treatments and vaccinations regardless of their insurance status (Da Silva Fagundes et al., 2018).Adequate treatment of persons with COVID-19 is essential since it controls the spread of the virus, lowering the number of new cases.	The nurse has the role of ensuring that individuals are tested for COVID-19 and receive appropriate treatments and vaccinations regardless of their insurance status (Da Silva Fagundes et al., 2018).Adequate treatment of persons with COVID-19 is essential since it controls the spread of the virus, lowering the number of newly infected cases.
Explain how global health issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies in both countries. (Be specific and provide examples)	Global health issues strain local healthcare organizations in the US, leading to poor coordination and delivery of healthcare services. Healthcare organizations often encounter challenges in workforce and finances when there are pandemics like the COVID-19 pandemic.	Global health issues create a significant financial strain on local health organizations in Australia.Many resources are channeled towards managing the adverse effects caused by the health issue, including treatment and rehabilitation.The state and local governments are forced to create or modify health policies to direct the response to global health issues.
General Notes/Comments	The CARES Act promotes health equity in the access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccinations since any insurance provides coverage without cost sharing.	The COVID-19 vaccine was the best approach to protect the Australian community.The policy aimed to promote early access to and delivery of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines and treatments for all Australians.

Part 2: A Plan for Social Change

Access to COVID-19 tests, medicines, and vaccines is one sure way of controlling the COVID-19 spread and fighting the pandemic that has taken the lives of hundreds of thousands globally and left the healthcare systems overwhelmed. Thus, it is crucial for healthcare advocates to direct their advocacy initiatives to ensure health equity and accessibility for tests, treatments, and vaccines for COVID-19. Advocacy initiatives should champion policies that ensure treatments and vaccines are available for all populations regardless of their insurance status, which is the only way to curb the pandemic.

As a nurse leader, I have the role of championing health equity in the COVID-19 vaccination to ensure all individuals access vaccines in the fight against the pandemic. For example, I can take part in developing policies and presenting them to elected legislators to address the challenges faced by individuals in accessing COVID-19 treatment and vaccines. I can propose and champion a policy that provides free treatment and vaccines for all citizens (Da Silva Fagundes et al., 2018). The policy can also include vaccination outreach programs to increase accessibility to vaccines, especially for people living in remote areas with limited transportation options. In addition, I can organize community education programs to educate individuals about COVID-19 vaccines and the importance of getting vaccinated to control the spread of the disease.  

Incorporating a global perspective may significantly impact my local practice since there will be increased access to healthcare for the patient populations served, thus resulting in better healthcare outcomes. It will also lower the spread of communicable diseases like COVID-19 infections and reduce the health complications, morbidities, and mortalities associated with these infections, thus reducing related healthcare costs (Da Silva Fagundes et al., 2018). This will promote social change since more people will be aware of approaches to reduce the spread of communicable diseases like vaccination. Thus, they may embrace other vaccinations, like Influenza vaccines which will lower the burden of infectious diseases.

Conclusion

Access to COVID-19 tests, medicines, and vaccines is a global health issue since this plays a key role in curbing the pandemic. Countries have enacted policies to ensure their citizens access tests, treatments, and vaccines, which will promote the control of the virus. The US has the CARES act, which promotes access to COVID-19 treatments and vaccines by requiring insurance providers to cover these services without cost sharing. Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination policy directs all individuals to access vaccines at no cost. 

References

Attwell, K., Rizzi, M., McKenzie, L., Carlson, S. J., Roberts, L., Tomkinson, S., & Blyth, C. (2021). COVID-19 vaccine Mandates: An Australian attitudinal study. Vaccine, S0264-410X(21)01530-9. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2021.11.056

Da Silva Fagundes, L., Frota, O. P., & Silva, E. M. (2018). Nursing practices in vaccination: An integrative review. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 8(8), 128-136. https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v8n8p128

Lukens, G., Sullivan, J., & Erzouki, F. (2022). COVID Relief Provisions Stabilized Health Coverage, Improved Access and Affordability. CBPP, March, p. 10.

Moss, K., Wexler, A., Dawson, L., Long, M., Kates, J., Cubanski, J., … & Pollitz, K. (2020). The coronavirus aid, relief, and economic security act: Summary of key health provisions. San Francisco: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

Paremoer, L., Nandi, S., Serag, H., & Baum, F. (2021). Covid-19 pandemic and the social determinants of health. Bmj, 372. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n129

Global Health Comparison

Individuals, health care organizations, and communities apply different strategies to cope with health problems. Formulating health policies is highly effective since many have political and legal support. These policies differ across countries, albeit addressing similar problems. This paper compares policies in the United States and Mexico in addressing childhood obesity.

Global Healthcare Issue	Childhood obesity
Description	Childhood obesity is a global health concern with profound impacts on children’s health. Childhood obesity is a leading cause of high blood pressure and cholesterol and a huge risk factor for diabetes (Gätjens et al., 2020). It is among the diseases increasing the illness burden at homes, health care organizations, and countries. With lifestyles and nutritional habits changing, a multidimensional approach is needed to reduce childhood obesity.
Country	United States	Mexico
Describe the policy in each country related to the identified healthcare issue	United States applies policies to reduce risk at a very young age. It addresses mothers’ and children’s nutritional concerns through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). The policy intervention seeks to reduce childhood obesity by providing healthy foods and nutrition education, particularly to low-income families (State of Childhood Obesity, 2020).	Mexico applies regulations to address childhood obesity problems. One such policy is the front-of-package labeling system that provides labeling specifications for pre-packaged food and non-alcoholic drink products (UNICEF Mexico, 2020). The policy provides warning labels for consumables with excessive critical nutrients and calories.
What are the strengths of this policy?	WIC’s main strengths include addressing the needs of mothers and children simultaneously. It also targets mothers at critical periods- pregnancy, postpartum, and breastfeeding. Besides nutritional provision, WIC also seeks to promote a healthy populace.	The policy guides adults when purchasing pre-packaged food and drinks for children.
What are the weaknesses of this policy?	The program only supports children up to five years. It concentrates mainly on nutrition, overlooking other aspects like physical activity. It only targets low-income populations, and childhood obesity is widespread even in high-income families.	It is primarily educative in approach. In this case, it does not prevent the productive of processed foods and options high in calories.
Explain how the social determinants of health may impact the specified global health issue. (Be specific and provide examples)	Living conditions, socioeconomic status, neighborhoods, and education have a huge impact on childhood obesity. Gätjens et al. (2020) found that children from low-income families are more vulnerable to obesity due to affordability and access to healthy food options problems. A suitable example is the high rate of obesity among African Americans and Hispanics.	Employment, education, neighborhoods, and socioeconomic activities determine people’s choices of lifestyles and food. Change in lifestyles and food options are among the leading triggers of childhood obesity. For instance, obesity rates are directly proportional to the consumption of processed foods.
How has each country’ government addressed cost, quality, and access to the selected global health issue?	On cost, the US government funds the WIC to reduce costs associated with running the program. It was allocated $5.5 billion for the 2021 activities (Baldari & Aherne, 2020). Such support ensures more mothers and children can get healthy foods and access to health services and nutritional education.	The Mexican government heavily fines companies that fail to provide correct labeling of pre-packaged foods. It also advocates for the production of foods low in calories by less taxation, which improves their access. Such interventions are instrumental in reducing childhood obesity.
How has the identified health policy impacted the health of the global population? (Be specific and provide examples)	WIC has been instrumental in reducing obesity rates in young children. Through WIC, obesity rates declined from 15.9% in 2010 to 13.9% in 2016 (State of Childhood Obesity, 2020). The decline was significant among minority populations. Reducing obesity improves overall health outcomes.	Front-of-package labeling is a way of helping people to make informed decisions when buying foods and drinks. Accordingly, buyers avoid prepackaged foods with warning labels and go for the healthier options.
Describe the potential impact of the identified health policy on the role of nurse in each country.	Nurses should play an educative role to ensure that eligible populations enroll in the WIC program. WIC also reduces the illness burden in communities by reducing obesity rates, implies that it reduces nurses’ workload.	Nurses should inform populations on the importance of labeling and how to identify unhealthy foods. They should also play an active role in influencing policies that require labeling of all foods to guide parents in decision-making.
Explain how global health issues impact local healthcare organizations and policies in both countries. (Be specific and provide examples)	Childhood obesity burdens healthcare organizations by increasing the number of people receiving healthcare services. With the rates still high, there is an urgent need for policy frameworks to be expanded to ensure that they are multifaceted. For instance, WIC should be expanded to look into more interventions to address the childhood obesity problem besides healthy food options and nutritional education and referrals.	Healthcare organizations respond to populations’ health problems directly. The magnitude of their burdens and responsibilities is directly proportional to the impact and severity of global health issues. It is important to formulate policies such as front-of-package labeling to address childhood obesity. Global health issues necessitate the formulation and progressive update of such policies as their dynamics change over time.
General Notes/Comments	WIC is commendable at all levels. It is among the interventions that address childhood obesity problem through a practical approach. If supplemented by other policy interventions and programs, it will help to reduce childhood obesity to a huge extent.	Children need protection from childhood obesity. The front-of package labeling is a practical approach to addressing this problem. The government should continue supporting it and improving its implementation approaches to keep children safe from the risk of obesity.

A Plan for Social Change

The health practice keeps on evolving as illness dynamics change over time. A glance at health care issues shows that they transcend national and international borders and are characterized by disproportionate impacts across populations. The vulnerable and underserved populations remain the most adversely affected. With the healthcare environment highly evolving, healthcare providers should embrace a global perspective which can be achieved by engaging in activities that enable healthcare providers to broaden their view of care and health problems. Such practices involve research, team-based care, and medical missions. As a nurse leader, it is crucial to be in the front line of improving cultural sensitivity and other practices that make the health practice more global in its approach to everyday problems.

Incorporating a global perspective or lens can have huge implications on local practice and my role as a nurse leader. Spaulding (2018) suggested that a global perspective in healthcare requires its providers to be more interconnected. In the local practice, health care providers would be obliged to examine how issues such as diverse cultures and international influences and beliefs affect health and health outcomes. As a nurse leader, my role would broaden since I would be tasked with ensuring that nurses understand the interconnection between health systems and the importance of approaching health care matters with a broadened mindset to achieve the desired outcomes.

Health care providers should be critical thinkers and highly innovative in their approach to care. Embracing a global perspective implies that health care providers are ready to apply comprehensive approaches applicable at a global scale to enhance health outcomes. Such an approach to care is the foundation of social change since social change entails enabling societies to live better lives. It is more about improving productivity, which is achieved by using a global perspective and proven interventions to address health care challenges.

In conclusion, health care problems across the globe vary according to people’s geographical locations, resources, and socioeconomic situations, among other factors. Policy interventions are designed to reduce the illness burden and promote healthy living by reducing vulnerabilities and protecting vulnerable populations, among other objectives. The comparative analysis between the United States and Mexico’s policies illustrates this difference as the countries look forward to ensuring that their people live safely and healthily.

References

Baldari, C., & Aherne, D. (2020, Mar 13). Fact sheet: Impact of the president’s 2021 budget on nutrition. First Focus on Children. https://firstfocus.org/resources/fact-sheet/fact-sheet-impact-of-the-presidents-2021-budget-on-nutrition

Gätjens, I., Hasler, M., Di Giuseppe, R., Bosy-Westphal, A., & Plachta-Danielzik, S. (2020). Family and lifestyle factors mediate the relationship between socioeconomic status and fat mass in children and adolescents. Obesity Facts, 13(6), 596-607. https://doi.org/10.1159/000511927

Spaulding, C. (2018, May 11). Our role in public health: Taking a global perspective.  AAP News & Journals. https://www.aappublications.org/news/2018/05/11/our-role-in-public-health-taking-a-global-perspective-pediatrics-5-11-18

State of Childhood Obesity. (2020). Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program. https://stateofchildhoodobesity.org/policy/wic/

UNICEF Mexico. (2020, Mar 04). What are we waiting for?Child obesity in Mexico presents an urgency that demands immediate change. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/stories/what-are-we-waiting-for-obesity-mexico

 

I have selected a health program promoting health for children and adolescents in United states. This program includes reducing obesity risk in ECE facilities, preventing chronic diseases, and preventing tobacco use among school students (CDC). For promoting children’s health CDC recommended improving health food options in schools, encouraging good nutrition and physical activity for early obesity prevention, health education, survey, and monitoring youth tobacco through National Youth tobacco survey (CDC). These strategies are listed here to measure and compare the evolution strategies. According to Walden University, LLC “we need to think about evaluation of the program from the very beginning, when first crafting the policy and when we are first implementing the policy”. So, it is critical to design evolution strategies while designing and implementing a program and to vision ahead on measuring the effectiveness. 

Walden University, LLC said that “If you cannot measure you would not know its effectiveness”. To measure the evaluation CDC has framework of program evaluation which includes “engaging stakeholders, describing program, focus evaluation design, gathering credible evidence, justifying conclusions, ensuring use, and sharing lessons. According to CDC, “evolution program selecting an evaluation consultant, gain consensus among stakeholders, develop process evaluation questions”. For example, “for increasing implementation of effective physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco –use prevention (PANT) strategies in schools and schools district within a CSH framework” (CDC). The questionnaire for evaluation for these strategies will be – “to what extent does the program provide model CSH and PANT policies, how many schools and school district are aware of CSH and PANT, how useful the technical assistance in helping schools for implementing these strategies”. Additionally, data collection and analysis are another way to measure effectiveness of the program and in the end, there will be evaluation reports that will justify how successful the strategies for the program were. 

This heath care program to promote children’s health design is based on improving nutrition, tobacco control campaign and physical activities improving in school children. Recent research suggested that improving health in schools and health programs promoting health bring positive influence on the students improve their physical health and academic grades. Datas collected shows “42% of US high schools students mostly A’s, ate breakfast all 7 days, 66% Us high school students mostly A’s ate vegetables, 41% student did not drink soda or pop achieve A grades” (CDC). Datas illustrated good dietary habits not only give good health but also make students focused and sharp in studies. In 2021 2.55 million (9.3%) reported using tobacco products in high school. An estimated 15.8 million (60.9%) students reported and recognized in the high schools and middle schools participate in antitobacco campaign programs (US Food & Drug administration).  

Social determinants are education, poverty, and discrimination directly and indirectly of health, where families live and work, “families and care givers directly influence the health of young children” (Mistry et al, 2012). Poverty can be managed by taking help from government and community resources and providing healthy food to children. School also provides free healthy foods to children who are under the poverty line, health education regarding healthy diets, healthy environment physically, mentally required for children to grow in favorable conditions to be better health wise. According to Mistry et al (2012), another social determinate is institutional resources include parks, fresh food markets and early education centers play important roles in promoting health and developments of young children”. 

 

The ACA seems to be a popular healthcare program. It has been one of the most significant programs/policies in the last 12 years. Since 2010 the number of uninsured Americans fell from 48 million to 28 million in 2016 (Finegold & Conmy, 2021). The 20 million difference shows how this policy made healthcare more accessible and affordable to some. The social determinants you mentioned were lower socioeconomic level citizens and the elderly. To expand that further, racism, poverty, unsafe neighborhoods, and lack of education are some of the many social determinants that create health inequity in our country (Leong & Roberts,2013). Seeing as this is such a comprehensive policy, it affected more people than I think the government thought. Those who did not fall under the poverty level did not see this implementation as positively as others. Those who did not qualify for subsidies had to go else wear for plans, and those plans were unaffordable for some Americans. The ACA has been great in helping those falling at or under the poverty level. Although the policy impacted millions of people who gained health insurance, it put some people into unaffordable plans, thus making them lose healthcare. In these situations, the good outweighed the bad, but that does not mean others did not suffer.

Finegold, K., & Conmy, A. (2021, February). HP-2021-02 trends in the U.S. uninsured population, 2010-2020 – Aspe. TRENDS IN THE U.S. UNINSURED POPULATION, 2010-2020. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/private/pdf/265041/trends-in-the-us-uninsured.pdf 

Leong, D., & Roberts, E. (2013). Social determinants of health and the Affordable Care

 Act. Rhode Island medical journal (2013), 96(7), 20–22.

 

Hi agree with you and would like to add, Health informatics is very useful in patient safety and patient care (Feldman et. al., 2018).  The ability to access and efficiently use data is very important in patient care, especially for nurses.  It is therefore important that nurses and other medical personnel understand how to use technology to retrieve important medical data in an effort to optimize patient care.  Data created by medical informatics is useless if nurses and others cannot properly retrieve and put it to good use in order to facilitate patient safety (McCullough et. al., 2010).   Information and technology skills are essential before the nurse can take advantage of medical informatics.  Without these skills, nurses will be ineffective in leveraging medical informatics to increase patient safety and outcome. 

Us  nurse represents the ideal personnel that would be the best champion for information and technology skills to increase patient safety and outcome.   Nurses are  the main advocate for the patient as the nurse cares for the patient from day one of the patient’s entry into the hospital.  In addition, nurse has the educational background and training that would allow valuable insight of patient data and information

References:

Feldman, S. S., Buchalter, S., & Hayes, L. W. (2018). Health Information Technology in 

Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety: Literature Review. JMIR medical informatics, 6(2), e10264. 

McCullough JS, Casey M, Moscovice I, Prasad S. The effect of health information 

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