Policy-Related Metrics

Predominant health problems: Compare at least one health problem to a credible statistic (CDC, county, or state).

Since 1980, the United States has taken on 10-year plans that outline certain key national health objectives set to be accomplished during a 10-year timeframe (Shi & Singh, 2015). These initiatives are founded on medical care with prevention services, health promotion, education, community health care, and increased access to integrated services. The initiative, Healthy People 2010: Healthy People in Healthy Communities, launched in 2000. The initiative emphasizes the role of community partners such as

The health status of the population in the United States is a national priority. The Healthy People 2020 outlines priorities and to improve the health of individuals and communities across the country. Healthy People 2020 is defined as a comprehensive set of national objectives for “improving the health of all Americans” (Healthy People 2020, n.d, para. 1). The Healthy people 2020, is aimed at improving the health of individuals and communities and envisions “a society in which all people live long, healthy lives” (Healthy People 2020, n.d, para 4). A short priority list was developed and contains twenty-six objectives knowns as Leading Health Indicators (LHI). The list of objectives was created to prioritize health issues that must be addressed and to find appropriate actions to take in order to improve the health of the population.

The American Health Care system needs to be constantly improved to keep up with the demands of America’s health care system. In order for the American Health Care system to improve policies must be constantly reviewed. Congress still plays a powerful role in public policy making (Morone, Litman, & Robins, 2008). A health care policy is put in place to reach a desired health outcome, which may have a meaningful effect on people. People in position of authority advocates for a new policy for the group they have special interest in helping. The Health care system is formed by the health care policy making process (Abood, 2007). There are public, institutional, and business policies related to health care developed by hospitals, accrediting organizations, or managed care organizations (Abood, 2007). A policy is implemented to improve the health among people in the United States. Some policies

In order to first start a policy process, the problem for which a policy is to be created must be identified and the policy holding a solution to the problem. Researchers and stakeholders will investigate the problem to identify if the policy will reach the policy making agenda. Policies must be to improve society’s health and wellbeing. In the United States (U.S.) public health related issues that require a formulation of a new policy and come from local, state, or federal legislations which ruling govern the provision of health care services and regulations. In this

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mission is to collaborate to create information and tools for people and communities to protect themselves through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and the preparedness for new health threats The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seeks to accomplish its mission by working with partners throughout the nation and the world to monitor health, detect and investigates health problems, conduct research to enhance prevention, develop and advocate sound public health policies, implement prevention strategies, promote health behaviors, foster safe and healthful environments, and provide leadership training. In order for the Centers for Disease to achieve their mission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relies on external partners including public health association, state and local public health agencies, schools and universities, and volunteer organizations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a created a set of four health protection goals. The goals are all people especially those at a greater risk of health disparities will achieve their optimal life span, the place where people live, work, learn, and play will protect and promote their health and safety, people in all communities will be protected from infectious, occupational environmental, and terrorist threats, and people around the world will

The federal and state governments are the largest supporters of health care services in the United States. Examples of support that our government provides include assisting those who are in need of health care with numerous options such as Medicare and Medicaid, the

HC1: Public health is here to assist in the prevention of disease, promote health and continually adding longevity to life (WHO, 2015). It is broken down into a few different functions. There are assessments and monitoring of different health communities and the populations which are at risk (WHO, 2015). Second, would be how policies are designed to solve certain problems on the local and national levels (WHO, 2015). And last, would be to make sure that all populations have adequate access to health care and that it is cost effective (WHO, 2015). Quality improvements is increasing its approach to get maximize services that will be effective while also minimizing the costs (HHS, 2011). When making improvements one must first identify strategies and characteristics that are essential to the concern (HHS, 2011). Once that is completed, apply the quality improvements to produce a measurable improvement (HHS, 2011). This will show whether there were improvements in efficiency, effectiveness as well as performance and outcomes (HHS, 2011). Another improvement would be making the role that environmental health has to give more of an impact in public

Healthcare policy is dynamic and ever changing, especially in our society today with the many changes in government control, insurance company influence, and actual delivery of healthcare services. In order to corral our healthcare system and ensure that there is quality control amongst all populations, health policies must be put in place. Health policy is defined as many things due to its dynamic nature but the assigned text expresses a definition that encompasses all aspects of what health policy is for us today, “Authoritative decisions made in the legislative, executive, or judicial branches of government that are intended to direct or influence that actions, behaviors, or decisions of others”(Longest, p. 5, (2010)). Among the many reasons why health policy is pertinent to our society an aspect of health policy that I feel is most important is in regards to public health practices. Health policy is the reason why populations that whom otherwise would not receive the absolute needed healthcare, actually get to receive healthcare. The financial aspect of healthcare is quite steep and more often than not healthcare services are not sought out by populations because they cannot afford to do so. With health policy the policymakers allow for the proper and equal disbursement of goods and services to ensure that everyone is remaining healthy no matter what

A community health assessment is a fundamental instrument of public health practice. Its objective is to depict the health of the community, by presenting information on health standing, community health needs, resources, and epidemiologic and other studies of present local health problems. It seeks to recognize target populations that may be at augmented risk of poor health results and to increase a better understanding of their needs, as well as evaluates the larger community surroundings and how it relate to the health of people. It also identifies those areas where better information is desired, particularly information on health differences amid different subpopulations, quality of health care, and the incidence and severity of disabilities in the population. The Community Health Assessment is the foundation for all local public health development, giving the local health component the instance to recognize and network with key community leaders, businesses and concerned residents about health priorities and concerns. This information shapes the foundation of improving the health status of the community by way of a strategic plan (The Municipal Public Health Services Plan Community Health Assessment Guidance and Format, n.d.).

There exist some limitations. According to the authors, the study was on a provincial level, and not so much on the regional, community, and municipals levels. This is seen as an issue, because it contained only social determinants of health that require a multi-sector change at the provincial level. Next, the intervention ONLY looked at initiatives like healthy eating and physical, without identifying social programs in sectors like housing. Last, the intervention was not an entirely successful one, because “it did not document attempt to document whether the searched initiatives achieved desired outcomes related to the social determinants of health; such results require many years to manifest themselves” (p.12). United States can learn that having insufficient healthcare for some people can become a greater problem which is associated with costs, time, and the government bureaucracy still faces challenges when it comes to healthcare in the United

There are several components of an organization: having an accomplished and competent workforce, the latest system for storing and transmitting data, and the proficiency to evaluate and respond to the health needs of the public (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2015). Within these dynamics are the tools to enhance the health of communities by formulating environments that support & sustain optimum health, while promoting the learning of skillful behaviors. To break this down further, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014) believe that with the above tools, every public health

To accurately strategize for implementation, an assessment of community themes and strengths, local public health systems, community

In public health, as in many fields there are a set of conundrums that practitioners, leaders and law makers have to address in order to provide the most appropriate service to their populations. One of these conundrums is the battle between what is good for the community vs. what is good for the individual. This topic will be broken up to the community vs. the individual, and discussed based on research done by Kass et al, and Oriola, and will be concluded by presenting possible solutions.

The Prevention and Public Health Fund was formed to improve health care quality and improve the investment in public health by the Affordable Care Act. Funding is distributed to many great Agencies to support research and programs to improve health care in our communities. A few agencies receiving funding that caught my eye were the Alzheimer’s disease Prevention Education and Outreach, Fall Prevention, and Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding. Taking a deeper look at these programs we will learn how much money they are allocated and how they are impacting our healthcare. In years to come these programs can continue to grow with the appropriate amount of funding and may have a big impact on the future of health care.