PEER 1: NT
What are the challenges faced in rural health?
Low income, no transportation, lack of knowledge and resources. Lack of access to medical facilities and professionals is one of the main issues affecting rural populations. Many people have to drive a long distance to access a few amenities and providers found in rural locations. Getting the care that people require may become a challenge for those with severe or chronic illnesses.
What are the characteristics and health concerns of the homeless population?
The living conditions of the homeless population frequently result in poor mental and physical health. Mental health issues include anxiety and depression and other conditions like Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse. Other health concerns are being unable to receive therapy and medical attention. Serious health issues may result from this, as well as a failure to treat pre-existing conditions.
The World Health Organization reports that in the first year of the epidemic, there was a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control claimed that in the first year of the pandemic alone, over 100,000 deaths were attributed to drug overdoses, approximately 29% more than the previous year (The Mental Health Crisis: The Impact on Our Most Vulnerable Populations – Commonwealth Care Alliance, n.d.).
Who are the major mental health professionals?
Medical professionals with training in mental health are called psychiatrists. Both medicine prescriptions and test orders can be made by them. A psychology doctorate is required for psychologists. In addition to doing research, they offer therapy.
What is the impact of the ACA on the vulnerable population?
By extending Medicaid and mandating insurance companies to cover pre-existing conditions, the ACA has made sure that all Americans have access to high-quality, reasonably priced healthcare. It has made it possible for the vulnerable population to get financial assistance for medical expenses, the Medicaid expansion has been particularly advantageous for them. By offering subsidies to this demographic and by extending Medicaid, the ACA has also contributed to lower health care costs for those who are most in need of care.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, March 31). Tailoring care to vulnerable populations by incorporating social determinants of health: The veterans health administration’s “homeless patient aligned care team” program. https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2016/15_0567.htm
Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2022). Delivering Health Care in America (8th ed.). Jones & Bartlett.
The mental health crisis: The impact on our most vulnerable populations – commonwealth care alliance. (n.d.). Commonwealth Care Alliance. https://www.commonwealthcarealliance.org/about-us/newsroom-publications/the-mental-health-crisis-the-impact-on-our-most-vulnerable-populations/
Ye, W., & Rodriguez, J. M. (2021). Highly vulnerable communities and the affordable care act: Health insurance coverage effects, 2010–2018. Social Science & Medicine, 270, 113670. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113670
PEER #2: JL
What are the challenges faced in rural health?
As DNP prepared nurses we have to understand and address the needs of patients who resides in rural locations. Rural populations in the United States are heterogeneous and comprise 60 million people or 20% of the US population (Harrington et al., 2020). Even though the rural population makes up about 20% of the US population, they are barriers associated with offering care. Some of these barriers include lack of healthcare professionals who provide care in rural areas and people who reside in rural areas are more likely to delay care due to cost (Shi & Singh, 2015). Many individuals who reside in rural areas do not have health insurance.
What are the characteristics and health concerns of the homeless population?
Homelessness can be described as a person without a place to reside, people in persistent poverty who are forced to move constantly and who are homeless for even brief periods of time; or people who have lost their housing due to personal, social, or environmental circumstances (Sleet & Francescutti, 2021). The rates of homeless population have increased in the United States. There are also several healthcare concerns of the homeless population. The homeless have a high prevalence of acute and chronic medical conditions, mental health and substance abuse problems and are also have a greater risk of assault and victimization (Shi & Singh, 2015). Many do not seek treatment due to lack of healthcare insurance.
Who are the major mental health professionals?
There are several individuals who offer mental health services. Some of these group of individuals include: psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, psychiatric nurses and nurse practitioners, substance abuse counselors, marriage and family therapists and counselors (Shi & Singh, 2015).
What is the impact of the ACA on the vulnerable population?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed in 2010 and its primary goal is to achieve universal health insurance coverage by facilitating cooperation among employers, citizens, and the government. Its other objectives are to make healthcare more affordable while simultaneously increasing healthcare quality and reducing unnecessary spending (Ercia, 2021). The ACA emphasizes preventative and primary care especially with vulnerable populations. Some of the vulnerable populations that the ACA cater to are racial and ethnic minorities, uninsured children, women, people living in rural areas, homeless, chronically ill and disabled individuals and people living with HIV/AIDs (Shi & Singh, 2015).
References
Ercia, A. (2021). The impact of the affordable care act on patient coverage and access to care:
Perspectives from fqhc administrators in arizona, california and texas. BMC Health
Services Research, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06961-9
Harrington, R. A., Califf, R. M., Balamurugan, A., Brown, N., Benjamin, R. M., Braund, W. E.,
Hipp, J., Konig, M., Sanchez, E., & Joynt Maddox, K. E. (2020). Call to action: Rural
health: A presidential advisory from the american heart association and american stroke
association. Circulation, 141(10). https://doi.org/10.1161/cir.0000000000000753
Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2015). Delivering health care in America: A systems approach, 7th
edition. Jones and Bartlett
Sleet, D. A., & Francescutti, L. (2021). Homelessness and public health: A focus on strategies
and solutions. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public
Health, 18(21), 11660. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111660
