PLEASE RESPOND TO EACH 6 DISCUSSIONS SEPERATELLY Peer Response must be substantive by bringing information to the discussion or further enhance the discussion. Each Peer Response must have a minimum of ONE reference with citations (the best is a peer-reviewed article). Word count is greater than 75 words or at least 5 sentences in length. Participation #1Health care disparities could also be defined as inequalities in the healthcare system. This includes individuals who are at greater risk of poor physical, psychological, and social health (Aday, 1994). At times, these individuals or groups may be referred to as under served populations, medically under served, medically disadvantaged, underprivileged, or vulnerable populations or marginalized groups. The causes of their vulnerability are largely attributable to inequalities in social, economic, health, and geographic conditions. Access to resources is key to ensuring all people receive the care they need and deserve.
Participation #2Health care disparities are health differences that are defined by economic, social, and/or environmental disadvantages (Latham, 2016). These disparities often occur in minorities, undereducated, uninsured/underinsured, disabled, mentally ill, and other vulnerable populations that have difficulty accessing health care. I believe increasing awareness of these disparities and requiring trainings specific to each population would help bring change. Additionally, access to health care would improve if more practices and/or providers are contracted with publicly funded insurances like Medicaid
.Participation #3Health disparities are inequitable and are directly related to the historical and current unequal distribution of social, political, economic, and environmental resources (CDC, 2020). Health disparities are everywhere and exist due to environmental, behavioral social, clinical, cultural, psychological, and genetic factors. A few contributing factors are those who do not have access to health care, the poor, and uneducated. We can improve health risks and reduce disparities and inequities by addressing social determinants of health (CDC, 2020).Participation #4Research in the field of health care disparities has historically focused on the differences between populations and how that has negatively affected overall health. However, beginning to focus on health equity, the highest level of health possible has more recently become the approach for addressing this prominent need in society. The widely descriiptive methodology included tracking health outcomes by race and ethnicity. Data outcomes such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes, homicides, suicides, and infant mortality have been among the studied areas. An effort to better understand these outcomes has led to the naming of social determinants of health (SDH). SHH can be thought of as the social conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age (including the health system), and are influenced by the distribution of money, power, and resources at global, national, and local levels, which are themselves influenced by policy choices. An effective health equity research program should generate data that can address the broader structural factors affecting health disparities. One way to better understand these areas of research is to examine data, but also to allow those affected an opportunity to participate in the proposed solution. Buy in is critical when approaching any need. Vulnerable populations face barriers that are often unseen by those who do not experience life as they do, it is critical to involve those being served in the solution.
Participation #5 One method of defining underserved populations is the seven-point definition used in the current “Index for Primary Care Shortage,” which categorizes underserved populations based on characteristics including race, ethnicity, geography, and health outcomes (Weitz et al., 2001). One thing I would do to improve this is try and see why there is a shortage in primary care and what could be done to fix the shortage. Hopefully with the increase of primary care providers in certain populations this would alleviate the issue for some populations.
Participation #6The underserved or vulnerable population is generally determined by a convergence of predisposing, enabling, and need characteristics (Shi & Singh, 2019). Those characteristics can be racial, gender, age, and geographic location for the predisposing characteristics. Insurance status and homelessness for the enabling characteristics and mental health, chronic illness/disability, and HIV/AIDS status for need characteristics. Unfortunately, this characteristic causes bias against them leading to poor quality health care, and less access. Improving these methods that are so ingrained in the United States health care system can pose quite the challenge but with efforts being made could improve the means in which the methods of determining the undeserved population can change for the better. Having universal health care for the country could eliminate the characteristic of being biased based upon the status of one’s insurance status because everyone will be covered. Universal health care could possibly decrease chronic illnesses as more primary care will be utilized as well as help to improve the economic status of those who had medical bills before having little to no medical bills. Education of racial and ethnic bias could help improve the disparities as well as a more diverse set of employees in the medical field. Tracking death rates, chronic and acute diseases, and injuries defined by race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and geographic location can help improve health equity (Shi & Singh, 2019). I do not believe our health care system in the U.S. will ever be perfect but there are modifications that could be made to make things much better for everyone involved.
