NUR 508 Grand Canyon Week 3 Discussion 2, Discussion: AHRQ “Priority Populations” Report

 

Review the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) report “Priority Populations”:

http://www.ahrq.gov/health-care-information/priority-populations/index.html

Select one of the “priority populations” and explain the disparities this population faces. What strategies have been implemented to combat these disparities on the local and national levels? Have they been successful? Include reference citations where appropriate.

 

NUR 508 Grand Canyon Week 4 Discussion 1

Debate the efficacies of public versus private-based quality initiatives. What roles do each play in the quality of U.S. health care? How would the elimination of one aspect affect the other? Respond to two other classmates and counter their answer, citing references as appropriate.

 

NUR 508 Grand Canyon Week 4 Discussion 2

After reading the Kaiser Family Foundation summary on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, state why or why not you believe the act should remain in law, or which pieces should be reversed. Then describe two pieces of the act that you were unaware was part of the act and how that may affect you as a citizen.

 

NUR 508 Grand Canyon Week 5 Discussion 1

What are the eligibility requirements and coverage of Medicaid for the categories of low-income adults, pregnant women, and the aging/blind/disabled in the state where you live? Do you consider the eligibility requirements reasonable or restrictive? Do you consider the coverage reasonable or liberal? What are the benefits and drawbacks to keeping these populations insured through Medicaid? Consider both direct and indirect factors.

 

NUR 508 Grand Canyon Week 5 Discussion 2

Review the CMS.gov 30-Day Mortality and Readmission Data website. Review at least two local hospitals and see how they compare to state and national benchmarks. How and why may a consumer or a health care professional use this data to make decision about their next hospitalization? Will reporting this data have an impact on hospitals bottom line in addition to financial penalties from CMS? Give at least two examples of how this data may be used and what type of impact if may have if at all on the hospitals.

 

NUR 508 Grand Canyon Week 6 Discussion 1

Debate the question: “Is health care a basic right in the United States?” Answer this question through the lens of your role as RN. Support your response utilizing ethical theories and principles. Respond to two other classmates using respectful communication and solid reasoning. Support your response with appropriate references.

 

MORE INFO 

AHRQ “Priority Populations” Report

Introduction

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently published a report, Priority Populations: A Framework for Understanding Disparities in Health Care Use and Outcomes. This document outlines eight priority populations and provides an overview of the factors that influence health care use and outcomes in these groups. By identifying these populations, providers can better understand how cultural influences affect health care utilization patterns and tailor their services accordingly.

American Indians/Alaska Natives

American Indians/Alaska Natives are a diverse group. They have a high rate of diabetes, smoking and obesity, among other health conditions. They also have a high rate of heart disease.

The AHRQ Priority Populations Report identifies those groups who are at higher risk for certain health problems and recommends ways to reduce their burden on the healthcare system by focusing on interventions that address these specific needs:

• Blacks (African Americans)

• Hispanics (Latinos)

• Native Americans

Asian Americans

The Asian American community is a diverse group of people who live in the United States. They come from many different countries, speak many different languages, and have different religions.

Asian Americans are overrepresented in the health care system; they have higher rates of depression and anxiety than other racial groups. They’re also less likely to be insured or vaccinated compared to other racial groups—and when they do get care, it’s less likely to be covered by Medicaid or Medicare (the federal programs that provide health care coverage).

Hispanics

The largest minority group in the United States is Hispanics. They are diverse, with many different cultures and languages. The culture of Hispanic Americans is rich and diverse, but often misunderstood by people who don’t know much about it.

Health care providers should take special care to understand the health needs of this population because they have higher rates of diabetes and obesity than other groups.

Middle Easterners / North Africans

Middle Easterners and North Africans are a diverse group of people who live in countries around the Mediterranean Sea, including Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and others. There are many cultural groups within the region as well. People from these countries have experienced discrimination because of their race or nationality for decades.

The United States has been working with Europe to improve health care for this population since World War II when it helped create programs such as Medicaid that provide health insurance coverage for low-income Americans regardless of their immigration status (or lack thereof).

Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islanders

NHPI are the fastest growing population in the US, with a total population of approximately 1.6 million people—approximately one-third of whom are over age 50. It is estimated that by 2030, NHPI will make up more than half of Hawaii’s population.

The ethnic makeup varies greatly among NHPI communities across the United States; however, some commonalities exist between them:

• The average life expectancy for NHPI is lower than other racial groups (77 years vs 82 years).

• Their rate of obesity has increased dramatically since 1980 (from 9% to 27%).

Rural Americans

Rural Americans are not your average Joe. They have different needs and challenges, which can make it difficult to access health care in rural areas.

• The most important thing to remember when identifying a rural patient is that they may not live in an urban area that’s close enough to get there easily. If you’re trying to find out if a patient lives in an urban or rural area, Google “population density map” and look at what pops up on Google Maps or Bing Maps (or whatever mapping service you use). You’ll see some pretty clear pictures of how many people live where—it’s easy!

• You should also be sure that any health professionals who treat your patient understand how their patients’ lives differ from those of urban patients: For example, some types of surgeries might need longer recovery times than other surgeries because there aren’t as many resources available nearby; this could affect who gets treatment first (and when).

This report is a useful resource for working with people from different cultural backgrounds.

This report is a useful resource for working with people from different cultural backgrounds. It provides a list of cultural groups and health issues specific to those groups, as well as a list of resources that can be used to find more information on those issues.

The report also contains links to websites where you can learn more about your own community and its history, as well as other ethnic groups in America.

Conclusion

This report is a useful resource for working with people from different cultural backgrounds. It’s important to know what kind of health care services you should be providing to these populations, and also how they may differ from other groups within your community. If you have any questions or concerns about these groups, feel free to reach out!