NUR 420 STU Miami Health Inequality Improvement Discussion Replies

You should respond to at least two of your peers by extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to their posts. 

All replies must be constructive and use literature where possible.

Discussion #1

• Module 3 Discussion: Community Health Problem and Improvement Plan
• Health inequality is a serious problem faced by Miami-Dade County. It is a culturally diverse county due to its large number of immigrant numbers. It comprises many African-Americans, with some tracing their origin back to the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Haiti. These individuals share similar disparities and barriers to healthcare access because of their ethnicity, race, and genetic risk factors for illnesses, such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Notably, treatment for these conditions is hard to obtain for most blacks in Miami-Dade County because of inadequate education, lack of insurance coverage, cultural barriers, and socioeconomic status. Research has shown that approximately 20 percent of the population lacks medical coverage, and the access to care score is estimated to be at 54 percent (Vigue et al., 2022). An in-depth analysis of the social determinants of health in the community emphasizes the need for policy changes to increase the availability of affordable housing, the implementation of strategies to curb tobacco use, and the provision of healthier food options.

The structure I would use to examine the prevalence of health inequality in the area is founded on community programs that help identify uninsured individuals and examine the prevalence of chronic illnesses in the population. The continuous assessment of education access portrays the awareness of health prevention and promotion strategies and the likelihood of adhering to the provided guidelines. Additionally, people’s engagement in media outlets and digital avenues, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, encourage their interaction helpful in understanding the impact of health inequities on their well-being and the effectiveness of the proposed interventions (Office of Community Health and Planning, 2022). Notably, I would collaborate with healthcare providers to initiate campaigns that would provide affordable care to these individuals while collecting data on the extent of inequality in the area. In this way, adopting the aforementioned structure would enhance the conceptualization of the existing disparities in Miami-Dade County and possible mitigation strategies.

Additionally, I would conduct various processes to enhance understanding among stakeholders on the health inequities that impact service delivery. For example, I would create pre-training knowledge tests for Miami-Dade County employees and share them with external collaborators through consortium meetings and media postings. This would enhance competency among healthcare practitioners, translating to an improved quality of service and ease in addressing their needs and preferences. Furthermore, I would improve community involvement by working with organizations in the area to foster socioeconomic stability (Office of Community Health and Planning, 2022). Encouraging increased graduation rates for students from minority communities reduces their susceptibility to poverty through low unemployment rates. Additionally, having income sources enables them to afford medical insurance, thus being able to mitigate existing health disparities. Therefore, conducting these processes would help conceptualize the extent of inequities and implement practical solutions that would increase access to care and address social health determinants.

The outcome standards I would use to evaluate the program aimed at mitigating health inequalities in Miami-Dade County are reduced illness rates for hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, and the active intake of nutritious food. The provision of general recipes, resources to purchase low-cost food ingredients, and education on portion control would help maintain these community members’ body weight within acceptable limits. Moreover, I would consider adherence to the proposed prevention and promotion strategies, such as increased physical activity and employee competency in addressing the disparities in the community. Furthermore, community members’ active involvement in awareness programs and treatment practices would reveal their conceptualization of healthy living and the significance of routine checks to ensure timely intervention to treat various conditions (Office of Community Health and Planning, 2022). Notably, increased governmental involvement and the enactment of policies to address the existing challenges would demonstrate their commitment to fostering wellness among the population. In this way, the program would be instrumental in addressing health inequalities among minorities in Miami-Dade County.

Discussion #2

Community Health Problem & Improvement Plan

    The topic of conversation is the public health issue known as infant mortality. Infant mortality is the term used to describe the death of a baby during the first year of life. This issue is of great concern and warrants our attention. It highlights potential shortcomings in healthcare and medical treatment delivery within a specific region. Additionally, it may reflect broader social and political factors that require examination. To effectively evaluate a program aimed at resolving this issue, one should consider using multiple criteria, such as structural, process, and outcome measures (Ghandour et al., 2019). This approach will help identify areas of success and areas that require improvement, ultimately leading to a more effective program.

    The first thing we must do is look at the program’s structure. We want to make sure it is well-organized, has enough resources and funding, and uses techniques that work. When evaluating a program, it is important to consider various factors such as the roles and responsibilities of those involved, the availability of necessary equipment and supplies, and the program’s accessibility and cultural sensitivity to the community (Ghandour et al., 2019). Once you have finished the step, conducting a comprehensive analysis of the program’s procedure is recommended. This analysis should determine whether the approach taken effectively addresses the issue at hand. The study should include evaluating various aspects of the process, such as its efficiency, accuracy, and reliability. By thoroughly analyzing, you can ensure the program works at its best and gives the best results possible. This could mean keeping an eye on the treatments, how many people actually got them, and how well they were done. It could also entail determining how well healthcare practitioners and community resources communicate with one another and work together (Ghandour et al., 2019).

    To know whether the program reduces infant deaths, we must look at some specific things. For example, we should check how many babies died before and after the program and what factors caused those deaths. We also need to see if the program is helping pregnant women and newborns get the healthcare they need and if their care is good. If we do a thorough evaluation using these things, we will better understand whether the program is doing what it should and where it could be improved (Litzelman et al., 2022). To improve maternal and infant health, paying attention to the challenges babies face in the community and providing necessary care and support to expecting and new mothers is crucial. This includes considering the number of premature or underweight babies born. The health and well-being of mothers and newborns and access to community healthcare services are additional outcomes that can be assessed (Litzelman et al., 2022).

    To effectively reduce infant mortality rates, it is necessary to thoroughly assess program structure, methodology, and outcomes (Litzelman et al., 2022). This includes carefully evaluating design, intervention strategies, and short and long-term impacts to gain a comprehensive understanding of the situation. This method can help determine program success and identify areas for improvement.