Week 8 Naomi COLLAPSE Top of Form According to Shi & Singh ✓ Solved

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According to Shi & Singh (2018), health policies are developed to serve the public’s interests, and in this particular case, Healthy People 2020 was created to help encourage healthy habits of all Americans. Healthy People 2020 can assist health care delivery systems by providing incentives for reaching certain goals, which would encourage people to develop healthy habits. The Healthy People (HP) initiative is a program that has coordinated activity to reach national goals in prevention and healthy living (Hesse et al., 2014). Many of the original objectives of the program focused on improving health and safety of infants, children, adolescents, and adults (Hesse et al., 2014).

This initiative has been around since 2010, just over a decade. Healthy People has created numerous initiatives to help American people, some of which have flourished over the years while others barely took off. The initiative I chose to discuss is one of the Healthy People 2010 original goals: to eliminate health disparities between different segments of the population, including those relating to gender, race and ethnicity, education, income, disability, living in rural locations, and sexual orientation (Davis, 2000).

Strengths

This initiative was crucial and still is, as there are always inequities among the American people. As we learned in previous sections of this course, many populations and racial groups face challenges in receiving health care. This initiative has allowed for new offices of minority health to be developed, which will assist in the coordination of disparities reduction efforts (Institute of Medicine, 2012). Furthermore, the legislation mandated a study of value-based purchasing programs, including programs for Medicare populations, by race/ethnicity (Institute of Medicine, 2012).

Weaknesses

After some research, I identified several weaknesses in this initiative. First, while life expectancy has increased steadily over the years, African American males still have the shortest life expectancy of all groups (Institute of Medicine, 2012). HIV infection/AIDS presents another significant weakness where substantial disparities exist; African American men are particularly at high risk of dying from HIV infection despite the introduction and usage of antiretroviral therapy (Institute of Medicine, 2012). Additionally, a deep analysis evaluated the progress toward meeting HP 2010 targets, concluding that no significant change in disparities had occurred for at least 70 percent of the leading health indicator objectives, with the American Indians/Alaska Natives seeing the fewest changes (Institute of Medicine, 2012).

Opportunities

Many opportunities remain for HP to improve the lives of the American people. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) reaffirms the themes promoted by Healthy People. What worked in 2010 will be advantageous for Healthy People 2020, and what did not work will aid in setting the stage for the next decade.

Threats

Due to having 28 focus areas in eliminating health disparities, some threats are present. Mental health has been a crisis for a long time, taking many lives due to suicide. Furthermore, access to healthcare has not always been easy and arguably still isn't for some, posing a risk and a threat to completely eliminating health disparities across races and ethnicities.

References

  • Davis, R. M. (2000). Healthy people 2010: Objectives for the united states. BMJ, 818–819.

  • Hesse, B. W., Gaysynsky, A., Ottenbacher, A., Moser, R. P., Blake, K. D., Chou, W. Y. S., Vieux, S., & Beckjord, E. (2014). Meeting the healthy people 2020 goals: Using the health information national trends survey to monitor progress on health communication objectives. Journal of Health Communication, 19(12), 1497–1509.

  • Institute of Medicine (US). (2012). Healthy people 2010: How far have we come in reducing health disparities? NCBI.

  • Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2018). Essentials of the U.S. health care system (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

  • Green, L. W., & Fielding, J. (2011). The U.S. healthy people initiative: Its genesis and its sustainability. Annual Review of Public Health.

  • Ambrose, P., Wykoff, R. F., & Lurie, N. (2001). The case for an ancient cause. Healthy people 2010. Postgraduate Medicine.

  • King James Bible Online. (2021). 1 Corinthians 3:16. Accessed April 16, 2021.

Paper For Above Instructions

The Healthy People Initiative has been an instrumental program in shaping public health policies in the United States. Since its inception in 1979, it has aimed to set national health objectives to improve the health of Americans. The current iteration, Healthy People 2020, continues this legacy with the broader goal of fostering a healthier society through a combination of initiatives focused on eliminating health disparities.

Healthy People 2020 emphasizes the necessity of addressing health inequalities across populations. The disparities in healthcare access and outcomes based on race, income, geography, and other factors are a serious concern in the United States. As recognized by the initiative, social determinants of health, such as education, housing stability, and employment, directly impact individuals' health outcomes (Shi & Singh, 2018).

Evaluating the strengths of the Healthy People Initiative reveals substantial progress. The establishment of minority health offices emphasizes the commitment to addressing disparities and coordinating efforts to improve health outcomes for marginalized groups (Institute of Medicine, 2012). Additionally, the initiative’s focus on education and awareness campaigns facilitates community engagement in health improvement efforts, thereby empowering individuals to take charge of their health.

However, there are also notable weaknesses that warrant attention. While life expectancy continues to rise, specific populations, particularly African Americans, still experience worse health outcomes. For instance, studies indicate that African American males have the shortest life expectancy compared to other groups (Institute of Medicine, 2012). Moreover, disparities in HIV/AIDS incidence and outcomes underscore the ongoing challenges in addressing health inequalities, despite advances in medical treatments (Institute of Medicine, 2012).

Future opportunities for the Healthy People Initiative to enhance outcomes are robust, particularly with the support of legislation like the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA aligns with the goals of Healthy People by promoting access to necessary health services and empowering individuals through health literacy initiatives (Green & Fielding, 2011). Moreover, the emphasis on preventative health measures within the ACA complements the objectives of Healthy People, ensuring that individuals can not only receive care but also engage in behaviors that promote long-term health.

Nevertheless, there are threats to successfully narrowing health disparities that must be addressed. Resource allocation and the sustainability of programs amidst economic fluctuations represent significant challenges. Furthermore, the growing mental health crisis is alarming and requires immediate attention and resources to prevent further negative health outcomes.

Overall, the Healthy People Initiative serves as a critical framework for guiding public health efforts in the United States. By addressing health disparities and encouraging healthier behaviors across the population, it aims to foster a more equitable healthcare system. As we look to the future, continuous evaluation and adaptation of these health objectives will be essential to ensure they meet the evolving needs of the American populace.

References

  • Davis, R. M. (2000). Healthy people 2010: Objectives for the united states. BMJ, 818–819.

  • Hesse, B. W., Gaysynsky, A., Ottenbacher, A., Moser, R. P., Blake, K. D., Chou, W. Y. S., Vieux, S., & Beckjord, E. (2014). Meeting the healthy people 2020 goals: Using the health information national trends survey to monitor progress on health communication objectives. Journal of Health Communication, 19(12), 1497–1509.

  • Institute of Medicine (US). (2012). Healthy people 2010: How far have we come in reducing health disparities? NCBI.

  • Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2018). Essentials of the U.S. health care system (5th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

  • Green, L. W., & Fielding, J. (2011). The U.S. healthy people initiative: Its genesis and its sustainability. Annual Review of Public Health.

  • Ambrose, P., Wykoff, R. F., & Lurie, N. (2001). The case for an ancient cause. Healthy people 2010. Postgraduate Medicine.

  • King James Bible Online. (2021). 1 Corinthians 3:16. Accessed April 16, 2021.

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