Health care is a rapidly developing field, and its progress defines the need to readjust the legislation accordingly. From this perspective, the adoption of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) is intended to improve the situation in this area and address the issues resulting from the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The latters objectives were to reduce the number of uninsured citizens, make medical services affordable, and expand access to them ( The future of U.S. health care: Replace or revise the Affordable Care Act? n.d.). Meanwhile, ACHA was passed in 2017, and its provisions will significantly affect the advancements and expansions of ACA ( The future of U.S. health care: Replace or revise the Affordable Care Act? n.d.). Therefore, it is vital to consider its effects and distinguish the positive and negative consequences of its adoption.
The principal changes to be introduced by ACHA are related to specific conflicting issues as opposed to the objectives of ACA. Thus, one of the differences between these two initiatives is the definition of health benefits they consider. ACA included ten types of them, and ACHA is aimed to propose its own set of provisions in this respect ( The future of U.S. health care: Replace or revise the Affordable Care Act? n.d.). In this way, they will consequently lead to a shift in the number of citizens eligible for specific subsidies.
The second area of influence is the financial aspect of the matter, and it presents an explicit difference between ACHA and ACA outcomes. The revision of current legal regulations in health care under ACHA implies the reconsideration of medical financing ( The future of U.S. health care: Replace or revise the Affordable Care Act? n.d.). The researchers claim that the proposed scheme of Medicaid expansion evokes concerns about its high costs, and ACHA will modify it by introducing a block grant and a per capita programs ( The future of U.S. health care: Replace or revise the Affordable Care Act? n.d.). Hence, this aspect of the matter will be most affected by the recent Act.
The adoption of the American Health Care Act is a reasonable step towards the establishment of a balance between the governments and its citizens needs. Nevertheless, it will not only have positive effects in terms of reducing costs and the revision of conditions for eligibility for the existing health care programs but also negatively affect some other aspects. According to the report of RAND Corporation, the adverse consequences of ACHA will include a decrease in health insurance enrollment and mostly worsen the situation for older and poorer individuals (Eibner et al., 2017). Therefore, the risks are related to a potential reversal of the principal advancements of ACA in the long run.
To summarize, the adoption of the American Health Care Act is a measure corresponding to the current needs of the country. During the crisis caused by the pandemic, the reduction of financing in the field will help solve economic problems while complicating the situation in health care which is a priority as well. The balance between these two considerations has not been reached yet, and the concerns of the population are related to the uncertainty of which initiative is more suitable to the present circumstances. In other words, an increase in the number of uninsured citizens adds to complicated funding distribution as opposed to the advancements of the Affordable Care Act and is critical in terms of the long-term outcome.
A health information technology system is defined as a scheme designed to help manage medical data. Laws have been enacted, such as the Patient Protection and Affordable care Act (ACA) 2010, that avail tenets for expanding access to medical technology for both consumers and care providers (Ong et al., 2018). The ACA was enacted when the mobile device industries, app development, and health software were experiencing tremendous growth. Consequently, this brought the stakeholders involvement in selecting health IT systems (HIT) to perform different roles (Eisenberg & Price, 2017). Therefore, there is a need to understand the roles, goals, and interests of the Regulatory groups or boards in this process.
Every government has regulatory boards that address the health informatics world to improve patient care and records quality, security, and safety. The FDA was the first regulatory body to control the selection of healthcare technologies in 1976 (Eisenberg & Price, 2017). The law required FDA approval to choose and use any machine, implement, apparatus, instrument, vitro reagent, implants, contrivance or other alike or associated article and any component, accessory part by consumers (Ong et al., 2018). During the time, the leading health technology comprised things such as cochlear implants and contact lenses only.
Interoperability
Regulatory bodies are responsible for facilitating information sharing and interoperability, which is a critical role alongside other technological outcomes of advancing a more cost-effective, high-quality, and patient-centered care (Ong et al., 2018). Interoperability can be interpreted as a secure platform that provides exchange and utilization of electronic health data without applying end-users special efforts. It can also mean that there is no information blocking for any stakeholders who want to access and use such systems.
Usability
Usability is a terminology that describes how different specialized groups can apply health IT products to meet specific objectives efficiently and effectively. Besides, they facilitate care providers to select a technology that reflects evidence-based, human factor science, user-centered design principles, and best practices (Ong et al., 2018). Such that it does not create unnecessary liability to end-users. Their role is to ensure such technology meets cultural competency that can enable access by consumers with different dialects and abilities.
Safety
Regulatory boards have a role and interest in ensuring the selected health systems meet specific patient safety objectives. This covers three important domains: a secure system, safe utilization of health IT, and finally, using health IT to better patient safety. The government mandates the FDA to regulate higher risk digital health and health IT (Eisenberg & Price, 2017). Additionally, other federal groups such as the ONC and AHRQ have coordinated efforts to address health IT safety, which lies within the private sector and is not covered by the FDA (Ong et al., 2018). They mainly focus on process certification, standards, coordination, and transparency.
Implementation of New Digital Innovation Plan
In response to high technological demands, regulatory bodies such as the FDA are responsible for implementing a new digital innovation plan, from product-based to developer-based. This approach will enable them to offer private third-party developers certification to advance quality products and processes (Ciani et al., 2017). They encourage the selection of health IT systems by improving the development and utilization of health IT regulatory reforms.
This is achieved by convening workshops and forming workgroups consisting of expert stakeholders from organizations representing healthcare systems, consumers and patients, hospitals, technology companies, and clinicians (Ciani et al., 2017). They examine the present regulator landscape, establish the most pressing need for technology use, and produce the agreed recommendation for applying various technologies.
Conclusion
Conclusively, it is the role of every regulatory body in government to address healthcare informatics. In that way, there will be a smooth running and quality administration of service to patients. Regulators ensure the proper selection of health information technologies that facilitate and archive data for healthcare growth. They need to promote healthcare technologies that respond by meeting the demands of health providers, staff, and consumers at all times.
Managers should be aware of their roles and goals. They should maximize their inputs in order to achieve the most desirable results. The concept of management work focuses on specific activities and processes undertaken by leaders to ensure every task is completed in a timely manner. Managers are supposed to create, monitor, implement, and track the progress of every task undertaken in their organizations (Longest, 2010). This concept is used to ensure various organizational tasks are managed in a professional manner. The process brings together different players and stakeholders in an attempt to achieve quality results. Managers should therefore be able to track the contributions of different players in order to record positive outcomes.
The concept also encourages managers to embrace specific competencies and skills that have the potential to improve performance. Some of these skills include critical thinking, the ability to empower, positive communication, and problem-solving (Longest, 2010). Managers who use this concept find it easier to address the major challenges affecting performance. They delegate duties and ensure every follower has a clear focus. Proper management and use of adequate facilitative activities will address the needs of different followers thus improving the level of performance.
Dental Public Health Program
Dental health remains a major area that has been ignored for years. Many people are currently affected by a wide range of dental problems and cavities (Peterson & Kwan, 2004). That being the case, powerful dental health programs can be used to address this problem. The proposed public health program seeks to educate children below the age of sixteen about the best dental practices. The program will be supported by the concept of early prevention (Peterson & Kwan, 2004). Children who are introduced to proper dental health practices will have healthy teeth. In order to achieve positive results, parents, guardians, and community workers will be involved throughout the process. These stakeholders will play a major role in supporting the needs of the targeted children.
Managing the Program
The success of the proposed dental health program will depend on the managerial practices embraced by different stakeholders. The leaders and community workers will be supported using the concept of management work. This concept will make it easier for the managers to create the best environment for implementing the program. The next step will be to delegate different duties and activities (Longest, 2010). The managers will use the best competencies to empower, monitor, and guide their followers. Such followers will also be equipped with appropriate resources in order to educate more children and their guardians. The program will stress the importance of specific practices such as regular brushing, intake of water, and avoidance of sugary foods (Peterson & Kwan, 2004).
The other important aspect of management work is tracking the progress of the tasks undertaken by different followers. Every task should be completed in a professional and timely manner. The people behind the campaign should be empowered and equipped with the right ideas. They should be guided to become successful communicators and decision-makers (Longest, 2010). They should be encouraged to collaborate with different members of the community in order to achieve the targeted goals (Peterson & Kwan, 2004). The managerial strategies embraced by different leaders will dictate the success of the dental public health program. This fact explains why the leaders and followers should embrace the management work concept.
Reference List
Longest, B. (2010). Health Policymaking in the United States. Chicago, IL: Health Administration Press.
Peterson, P., & Kwan, S. (2004). Evaluation of Community-Based Oral Health Promotion and Oral Disease Prevention: WHO Recommendations for Improved Evidence in Public Health Practice. Community Dental Health, 21(1), 319-329.
With the increasing scope of medical knowledge over the last few decades, new options of treatment have become available due to technological advancement. The development of health information technologies has given health providers the opportunity to have complete access to diverse data, which is impossible to access without digital media. Therefore, the demand for professionals specializing in the area of information technologies has increased, with more and more jobs opening up to meet the need for staff on important innovative projects and health informatics fields.
Health care informatics represents an interdisciplinary study concerning design, development, adoption, and application of Information Technology (IT)-based innovations in the planning, management, and delivery of healthcare services (Fridsma, 2017). The wide range of processes implemented with the help of IT has enabled the adoption of new roles in health informatics, such as the Chief Information Officers, Chief Medical Informatics Officer, Nursing Informatics Specialist, Software Engineer, and many others. The mentioned positions are needed for developing new solutions in IT healthcare, such as mobile applications, electronic health records, patient satisfaction surveys, statewide databases, and more. Health IT specialists are crucial for improving the delivery of care by helping nurses, physicians, and other personnel operating at healthcare facilities do their job effectively.
The need for increasing the numbers of IT personnel within the healthcare setting is associated with the fact that some of the required roles are hard to fill. For instance, according to the report prepared by the University of San Diego (2016), it takes around 18 days to fill the position of a medical record clerk, which is a relatively uncomplicated IT personnel role to fill. However, more advanced roles, such as the Clinical Analyst, Medical Coder, Clinical Application Developer, Medical Records and Coding Supervisor, as well as Health Information Manager/Director take between 38 and 42 days to fill, which suggests that there is a lack of skilled professionals specializing in health IT.
Health informatics as a top career in healthcare has gained attention because of its focus on combining patient care with health IT skills, which enables professionals in this sphere to demand more pay and expand their potential for professional growth. For example, the average salary for health IT professionals across US regions was $111,387 annually by 2015, which signifies the high demand for the position (University of San Diego, 2016). As a result of the increasing demand, the sphere of education has been dedicated to developing academic programs in the field of health informatics, including apprenticeships and experiential training as a path toward the advancement of the profession (Fridsma, 2017). Because of the unique nature of the health IT profession, there is a need to facilitate diversity in training and for educators to think beyond the traditional approaches in order to get a larger number of students interested in the field.
Considering the fact that many positions are currently hard to fill, the role of a health IT professional is expected to further increase in importance, especially in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic when the reliance on digitalization of healthcare has become crucial. Health IT personnel will use their extensive skills and expertise to improve the future of patient care and delivery, and they need multidimensional training, which includes both academic education and apprenticeship training to become valuable professionals in their fields.
References
Fridsma, D. (2017). Developing the health informatics workforce of the future: Academic and industry partners. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 24(3), 677-678.
The ultimate aim of any healthcare system is to ensure that the targeted beneficiaries receive high-quality and timely medical services. Stakeholders need to examine all available indicators and trends to implement evidence-based clinical guidelines and care delivery systems. This paper describes how external initiatives have the potential to assist healthcare institutions to implement quality-based strategies that can improve clinical outcomes.
External Initiatives
The American government designs and supports various initiatives that can support the introduction and implementation of superior strategies to improve the countrys health. For instance, the Healthy People is a model that identified specific objectives that are founded on scientific objectives to engage different partners and implement appropriate improvement strategies (McGowan et al., 2020). The external initiatives guide stakeholders to learn more about the health challenges many people encounter. The strategy outlines some of the leading causes of disparities and presents evidence-based to address them.
The established health care delivery systems can focus on the leading indicators of health to implement appropriate practices, engage key stakeholders, and guide local agencies to identify the intended health outcomes. Policymakers need to remain involved and present incentives that will improve the level of care delivery. Such initiatives can make it possible for different agencies to identify existing gaps and consider new ways to address them (Pahigiannis et al., 2019). The emerging policies, practices, quality-based practices, and initiatives will eventually ensure that more citizens receive personalized medical services.
Selected Initiative for 2000 to 2010 Period
Progress
The Healthy 2000 strategy was intended to increase peoples quality and length of life and eliminate health disparities. The selected priority area for this discussion was the need to sensitize more people about fitness and the best initiatives to prevent opportunistic and communicable diseases (McGowan et al., 2020). Within the ten-year period, the country managed to reduce the number of infections and incidences for various illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and obesity. The relevant agencies also collaborated to address the existing disparities and create superior care delivery models.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
The initiative was founded on existing medical challenges and health disparities.
The government was involved to support the introduction of new strategies.
Many institutions and stakeholders were involved.
Weaknesses
The initiative focused on many areas.
Many people still lacked a detailed understanding on the intended goals.
Inadequate funds and policies affected the targeted goals.
Opportunities
The study report presented new insights for future initiatives.
The emergence of medical technologies could meet the demands of more people (Pahigiannis et al., 2019).
New policies and health improvements could meet future needs.
Threats
Some agencies were unsupportive of the initiative.
The country lacked adequate policies to support the initiative.
Discussions
The period in question reveals that external health initiatives can guide different stakeholders to identify evidence-based practices to meet patients needs. The lessons gained from this strategy made it possible for different organizations to transform their care delivery models and prioritize specific areas based on the results of the previous period (Pahigiannis et al., 2019). Future policymakers and leaders relied on the recorded gaps and gains to set the best agenda for the Healthy People 2020 initiative. The decision to pursue such efforts will transform the quality and access of medical services.
Conclusion
The above discussion has identified external initiatives as powerful strategies for supporting and guiding different agencies to transform their care delivery systems. The emerging insights and efforts can work synergistically to revolutionize care delivery and ensure that more people have access to high-quality services. The involvement of all key stakeholders can eventually ensure that desirable results are recorded.
Customer Value Stores (CVS) Health is an American health care innovation company that aims to help people improve their health. Its major goal is to grow into one of the most customer-centric company in the health care industry. It owns several subsidiaries, including CVS Pharmacy, CVS Caremark, and Aetna among other brands. The corporation was founded in 1963 by Stanley Goldstein, Sidney Goldstein, and Ralph Hoagland. Upon its founding, the company operated as a provider of health and beauty aid. Seven years later, it added pharmacy services. Expansion was facilitated by a merger with Melville Corporation. The two worked together throughout the 1980s and the 1990s, until CVS Corporation became a standalone brand in 1996. It has been criticized for engagement in deceptive business practices, corruption, and privacy violations. The companys leadership can be cited as one of the primary pillars of its success.
Top Leadership Traits
The complexity of the companys business model and its evolving growth strategy require highly skilled leaders who possess vast knowledge and experience. Moreover, they should be able to perform exceptionally in order for the company to attain its mission and vision. The company maintains that leadership can be nurtured. In that regard, leaders must master new competencies that are out of their comfort zones. Relying on natural capabilities is a strategy applied by poor leaders who fail to achieve their goals. CVS Health believes that leadership development is a process that incorporates three factors, namely coaching, feedback, and evaluation.
Accountability
One of the leadership traits that can be identified in CVS Health is accountability. Accountability refers to the willingness to accept full responsibility for certain actions or outcomes, whether they are positive or negative. In 2014, the companys leadership decided to halt the sale of tobacco products in its stores, a move that received mixed reactions. According to them, selling tobacco products and cigarettes in a place where health care services were provided was wrong (Abrams, 2014). At the time, the decision was projected to cost CVS approximately $2 billion annually in revenue, which accounted for 15% of the companys total earnings (Abrams, 2014). The decision was difficult to make because it affected the companys bottom line adversely. However, the leaders were convinced that eliminating tobacco products from their stores would improve the health of Americans significantly. The corporations leadership took accountability of their actions because their mission is to make the health of their customers better. Therefore, selling tobacco products in their stores was a violation of their promise.
The top leadership was lauded across the US for the decision because few organizations would risk lowering their profits in such a way. Tobacco products pose several health risks to the public. However, many companies ignore them because of the money they earn from selling cigarettes and other products. Giving up billions of dollars in favor of improved health outcomes is a sign of great leadership. They decided to align their actions with the beliefs that underlie their mission (Abrams, 2014). Since then, accountability became one of pillars of the companys organizational culture. Studies have shown that employees become accountable because they see their leaders make decisions that align with their organizational beliefs.
Innovation-Oriented
Innovation leadership refers to a leading technique that influences employees to develop creative products and services. Innovation is one of the major characteristics of CVS Health. For instance, the company is reinventing pharmacy through its Pharmacy Advisor program and the Specialty Connect programs (Merlo, 2018). The companys CEO, Larry Merlo, believes that pharmacy care is one of the avenues through which they can improve the quality and cost of, as well as access to health care. He argues that pharmacy is facilitating the provision of better care to the people they serve. The company is undertaking many innovative projects and programs that are aimed at attaining the aforementioned milestones. For instance, MinuteClinic is mitigating the challenge of physician shortage and an increase in the number of insured Americans (Merlo, 2018). It provides high quality and affordable care to many Americans. It encompasses a wide range of services, including vaccinations, chronic disease monitoring, screenings, and acute care (Shi and Singh, 2019). MinuteClinic are designed to collaborate with and complement primary care facilities. The CEO has also commenced a project that is focused on the application of telemedicine within MinuteClinics.
Teamwork Promotion
As mentioned earlier, the companys main goal is to help people improve their health. CVS is made up of a diverse group of employees with different skills, personalities, and motivations. Therefore, team building is an essential aspect of the firms success. CVS is known for a culture of high-performing teams in which members enjoy the opportunity to perform individually (Shi and Singh, 2019). The leadership team gives team members the freedom to make critical decisions on matters that are important to the company. Team building comprises several steps that include hiring the best talent, creating teams, and allocating resources to facilitate their growth (Shi and Singh, 2019). According to the companys CEO, caring for employees is an important leadership trait that guarantees success. In that regard, he conveys confidence in their ability to attain company goals.
One of the approaches used by CVS leaders to attain organizational goals is team building. Teams are created, comprising individual with different talents and skills. Members are then given the accountability and responsibility to make decisions and attain goals using personalized strategies and techniques. The communication of clear expectations and outcomes accompanies the process of giving members responsibilities (Shi and Singh, 2019). In order to enhance the attainment of objectives, responsibilities are matched to team members based on their capabilities. Delegation of tasks depends of individual skills. Team leaders collect feedback from members and act on them to improve their experiences.
A Major Challenge
A challenge that affected CVS health tremendously was maintaining the privacy of patient information. The company has dealt with several lawsuits involving the violation of privacy statutes with regard to sensitive data. In 2009, CVS was accused of violating the privacy of millions of patients during the process of disposing patient information. This lawsuit tarnished the companys image because unauthorized access to any form of personal information is a serious issue. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accused CVS of failure to train employees on proper disposal methods and the failure to implement policies and procedures to guide the disposal process (Shi and Singh, 2019). The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule requires all entities that handle patient information to keep it private.
The lawsuit was a big blow to the company. CVS was fined and agreed to toughen its information privacy practices. In that regard, they paid a $2.25 million fine to the government (Shi and Singh, 2019). In addition, they implemented a vigorous mitigation action plan that include the creation and implementation of Privacy Rule compliant policies within the company. Other corrective measures include employee training on proper disposal of patient information and punitive employee sanctions for violation of the policies. HHS and FTC took an active part in monitoring CVS in order to ensure that the corrective action plan was implemented as agreed upon (Shi and Singh, 2019). Employees no longer toss prescription bottles with patient information into open dumpsters that can be accessed by authorized people.
Conclusion
CVS Health was founded in 1963 as a health and beauty services company. Since then, the organization has undergone several changes into the multinational corporation it has become. Its growth in the past decade can be attributed to the leadership of its CEO Larry Merlo. The top leadership traits that can be identified from the company include accountability, innovation, and the promotion of teamwork. The cessation of the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products in all its stores was a move that demonstrated the firms accountability toward improving the health of its customers. CVS Health aims to be the best customer-centric health care company by incorporating innovation into its operations. Privacy has been a recurrent issue that has affected the firm. In 2009, CVS paid $2.2 million in fines for exposing patient information to authorized individuals through improper disposal. In addition to the fine, the organization trained its employees on proper information disposal and implemented policies for the proper disposal of data.
Telemental health, also known as distance counseling, e-therapy, or online therapy, is the provision of behavioral health services remotely via telecommunications technology. This type of technology can include telephone, text messaging, video conferencing, or any other form of digital communication (Telehealth Institute, 2022). There are many benefits to using telemental health services, especially for those who might not be able to access traditional face-to-face therapy. It can be more convenient and less expensive, and it can also help people who feel uncomfortable or embarrassed about seeking therapy in person. The telemental health services provided in New York and Florida are similar in many ways. The confidentiality, or privacy, of patient mental health information, is ensured by federal and state legislation in both states. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law that provides industry-wide standards for the security of electronic health information. The two states (New York and Florida) have similar laws and training when it comes to telemental health services.
New York
In New York, the training requirements to gain competence in Telemental Health a lot of training is required. To gain competence in Telemental Health, one first needs to be a licensed mental health professional in their state. For example, to become a licensed mental health professional, the person needs to complete a masters degree (Telehealth Institute, 2022). These degrees should be in psychology, social work, or marriage and family therapy from an accredited program. They should similarly complete three years of supervised experience after graduation and pass the required licensing exams. Once licensed as a mental health professional, one then needs to complete a Telemental Health Training Certificate (Telehealth Institute, 2022). This certificate is offered by many different organizations throughout the country, and it provides training in how to provide mental health services via telehealth.
Likewise, there are a number of different privacy laws that apply to Telemental Health. In New York, for example, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act sets out specific rules regarding the confidentiality of patient information (Sherman, 2017). Other state and federal laws may also apply, depending on the nature of the services being provided. It is important to make sure they are familiar with all applicable laws before offering Telemental Health services (Telehealth Institute, 2022). This will help ensure they are providing the highest level of care possible and protecting their patients privacy.
The Tarasoff Laws are a set of regulations governing the provision of mental health services via telecommunication. These laws vary by state but generally require that trainees in mental health professions receive competent supervision and training in order to provide care via telecommunication. In New York, the Tarasoff Laws stipulate that all licensed mental health professionals who provide services via telecommunication must complete a minimum of ten hours of specialized training in telemental health (Telehealth Institute, 2022). This training must cover topics such as assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, risk management, and ethical issues related to the delivery of care via telecommunications. In addition, supervised field work or clinical experience is required in order to obtain eligibility for licensure.
Similarly, it is important to note that in order to become competent in telemental health, one must adhere to the mandatory reporting laws of their state. In New York, trainees must complete an educational program that addresses the minimum requirements for protective services workers as set forth by the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (Telehealth Institute, 2022). Furthermore, during their field placement, trainees must also successfully complete a statewide certification process (Maheu et al., 2018). On the other hand, the age of consent to treatment in New York for trainees in Telemental Health is eighteen years old. Trainees must gain clinical experience and be under the supervision of a licensed mental health professional in order to be competent in Telemental Health.
Florida
Offering Telemental Health services in Florida requires a person to undergo different training, just like in the case of New York. One needs to have masters level training in a mental health discipline or be a registered mental health counselor, social worker, or marriage and family therapist in the state of Florida (Telehealth Institute, 2022). If someone does not have a masters level training, they will need to complete the Telemental Health Training Certificate offered by the University of South Florida before beginning practicing telemental health (Telehealth Institute, 2022). The program takes a few years to complete, but it offers an overview of mental health disorders and best practices for diagnosis and treatment using various digital platforms (Paige et al., 2022). The trainee is similarly expected to complete a board-approved course in telemental health. The course covers ethical and clinical issues, technological aspects of providing service via technology, diagnosing and treating mental disorders via technology, assessment methods used with technology, and patient management via technology.
There are no specific privacy laws requirements to gain competence on Telemental Health in Florida. However, mental health professionals are required to comply with the same privacy laws as other healthcare providers. This includes complying with state and federal privacy laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. In general, HIPAA requires health care providers to maintain the confidentiality of patient information (Maheu et al., 2018). There are certain circumstances where disclosure of patient information is allowed without patient consent, but for the most part, clinicians must obtain patient consent before sharing any information with third parties. In both cases, New York and Florida focus on patients confidentiality protection by observing HIPAA laws.
Each state has different Tarasoff laws regulating mental health professionals duty to warn and protect potential victims of violence. In Florida, mental health professionals must complete a few hours of training on Telemental Health every year in order to maintain their license (Maheu et al., 2018). The training must include the nature and scope of telemental health services, including the use of technology in providing such services, and the applicable ethics and standards for telemental health care. It similarly entails how to assess a clients functioning and diagnose mental disorders using technology, how to provide crisis intervention using technology, and consulting with other professionals regarding a clients care using technology.
Moreover, for the trainees in Florida, there are mandatory reporting laws that they need to know about in order to provide telemental health services which are close to those for New York. These laws require certain individuals who work with children and adolescents to report any suspected child abuse or neglect (Maheu et al., 2018). The Florida Department of Children and Families provides information on their website about the specific individuals who are required to report child abuse or neglect, as well as what needs to be reported. This includes mental health professionals, physicians, social workers, school teachers, other school personnel, law enforcement officers, and clergy members. The age of consent to telemental health services in Florida is eighteen, which is the same as that of New York (Zhu et al., 2021). This means that trainees who are eighteen years of age or older can provide telemental health services to clients without needing consent from a parent or guardian. Trainees who are under the age of eighteen must obtain consent from a parent or guardian before providing telemental health services to a client.
At this time, there are not many international telehealth laws on telemental health, except for HIPAA. However, in the United States, several states have licensure requirements for out-of-state providers who wish to deliver healthcare services via telehealth technologies; these states include New York and Florida. In New York, all providers delivering telemental health services must be licensed in the state in which the patient is located (Maheu et al., 2018). In Florida, out-of-state providers must be licensed in Florida or have a letter of good standing from their home states licensing board.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when it comes to training, there are several key similarities between New York and Florida. For one, both Florida and New York have strict privacy laws. This means that if one is providing telemental health services to residents of Florida or New York, they will need to be extra careful about protecting their clients privacy. Additionally, they have the Tarasoff Laws, which mandate that mental health professionals report any threats of harm made by their clients. Finally, Florida and New York also have mandatory reporting laws in telemental health training. These laws require mental health professionals to report any cases of abuse or neglect that they become aware of during the course of their work. Similarly, the consent age for telemental health services is eighteen years in both countries.
Sherman, J. (2017). Double secret protection: bridging federal and state law to protect privacy rights for telemental and mobile health users. Duke Law Journal, 67, 1115. Web.
Institute, T. (2022).Florida. Telementalhealthtraining.com. Web.
Institute, T. (2022). New York. Telementalhealthtraining.com. Web.
Community health relies on many factors, and health care is only a small part of ones well-being. People do not live in the same environment some experience hunger, homelessness, poor living conditions, and more. Many neighborhoods have been influenced by racial discrimination and financial restrictions historically. This paper considers a line of inequality in Hartford, an American city, the housing quality of which has been dictated by segregation for decades. As a community health nurse, it is vital to consider the consequences of poor living arrangements for many residents and the effects on health these problems cause.
The Ninth Street: Community Assessment
The city of Hartford, CT, continues to fight the effects of racial segregation. There are many neighborhoods where community health meets many challenges, but a clear line can be drawn between the Northeast and Downtown neighborhoods (Health in Hartford, 2022). In the former, poor housing conditions, low economic stability, and lack of access to services lead to difficulties in everyday living (Access Health CT, 2021). The windshield survey shows that the neighborhoods near the center have a higher number of abandoned buildings and a lower quality of housing. Moreover, fewer stores with healthy foods and accessible healthcare facilities can be seen. In contrast, the Downtown areas housing appears to be new or well-built, with stores and activity centers.
Therefore, on the first side, low-quality housing and the lack of access to healthy foods and medical care are potential health threats. As noted in the documentary by Smith (2008), a statistical connection exists between health problems and social status. Such factors as low income, low level of control at work or job insecurity, lack of access to healthy foods, and living conditions contribute to higher levels of stress. As a result, constant exposure to stress leads to increased rates of high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions (Smith, 2008). Therefore, the neighborhoods condition is a prominent threat to its residents health.
Moreover, the areas housing is likely to have improper ventilation and moisture control in the buildings, which could result in mold and bad air quality. According to DeMarco and Healey-Walsh (2019), mold can lead to sensitive people developing respiratory symptoms. If left ignored, the poor quality of air and contaminants could lead to long-term breathing problems (Sullivan & Thakur, 2020). If people are unable to improve their living conditions, this problem can reach multi-generational levels.
Community Health Nurse Interventions
The knowledge gathered from this module shows that the neighborhoods residents are exposed to many risks to their health. In particular, housing quality is concerning as it can lead to chronic conditions and long-term consequences (Smith, 2008). As DeMarco and Healey-Walsh (2019) note, population data gathered during community assessment is vital in supporting nurses research and intervention development. Leonard (2019) supports the findings of the windshield survey presented above Hartford, similar to other cities in Connecticut, suffers from poor housing conditions. These include public spaces, drainage, sewer systems, and air quality.
As a result, many people, especially children, develop respiratory conditions, such as asthma. This problem is prevalent in black communities black families are disadvantaged financially and territorially as the long history of segregation continues to drive lines through the citys districts (Access Health CT, 2021). As an outcome, black children are five times more likely to go to the hospital because of asthma (Access Health CT, 2021). Leonard (2019) finds that ones surroundings can have asthma triggers. If they are not removed, they can cause permanent damage to ones respiratory system (Leibe et al., 2020). Additionally, Smith (2008) suggests that the quality of air in ones home either empowers or negatively affects their health. Therefore, people who cannot afford to leave neighborhoods with unsafe housing are predisposed to a higher risk of health conditions.
Community health nurses can approach the described problem of housing disparity and health conditions from multiple angles. Looking at the issue from a case-finding perspective, a nurse can survey the areas residents and investigate disease rates and related events (DeMarco & Healey-Walsh, 2019). Based on this information, screening and outreach programs can be developed. The nurse may focus on how specific households deal with their living surroundings quality in a family-centered perspective. Leonard (2019) suggests advocacy and awareness initiatives to help families create a cleaner and safer housing environment. From a systems perspective, the idea of environmental health should be considered. For example, nurses can create a program to advocate for better housing or spread information, testing, and assistance. In the neighborhood examined in the documentary by Smith (2008), healthcare professionals open a facility that teaches political activism to residents so they to voice their needs and establish a conversation with the government. This is a systemic approach that could promise long-term outcomes for future generations.
Conclusion
Community health is influenced by a variety of factors, some of which have a deep history. In Hartford, being a community nurse means fighting against the outcomes of segregation and racial discrimination that affected whole neighborhoods for decades. A considerable problem in the city is its housing many people live without proper sanitary and heating systems, near abandoned or run-down buildings, or without access to good food and healthcare facilities. A significant health issue is an asthma, and the black population is at a higher risk statistically. Interventions for a community nurse may include systemic changes to care and education programs, advocacy for better living conditions, and research-based outreach initiatives.
American Society for Microbiologys article Disappearance of the Human Microbiota concerns the topic of human microbe diversity. As authors state, microbiota is extremely important to human health, existing both outside and inside of a persons body. Early humans have lived in close contact with microbes, and acquired many of them throughout their life. The microbiota helped individuals resist various diseases and live healthy lives. However, scientists have noticed considerable changes in this process, and a reduction in the diversity of microbiome ( Disappearance of the human microbiota: How we may be losing our oldest Allies, n.d.). It is suspected that human development of the recent decades has presented a big challenge to the harmony of people and microbes.
With the changes in lifestyle, inclusion of more processed foods and urban-centric living, people no longer came into contact with many microbes. Societies that adhere to more ancestral lifestyles, such as those found in the Amazon or Tanzania, still exhibit the now-lost microbiome composition. As a result of modern living, the microbiota of each generation has become less and less diverse, contributing to a variety of health and wellness issues ( Disappearance of the human microbiota: How we may be losing our oldest Allies, n.d.). According to current understanding, microbiota is transferred from mothers to their infant through milk, allowing young children to develop an immune system and stabilize their digestive systems.
Other factors also affect the development of microbes in the human body. Reliance on baby formula, use of antibiotics, and western-style diets can all significantly damage the natural balance of microorganisms. In order to combat this issue, it is necessary to introduce changes, both in the medical field and in peoples daily lives ( Disappearance of the human microbiota: How we may be losing our oldest Allies, n.d.). The prescription of antibiotics must be further limited as to not damage peoples bodies incessantly. Alternatively, the development of more narrow-use antibiotics is also encouraged, as they would be able to target dangerous pathogens without affecting microbe diversity ( Disappearance of the human microbiota: How we may be losing our oldest Allies, n.d.). For dietary habits, experts suggest changing peoples daily eating habits. Consuming more fiber-rich foods, as well as pro or pre-biotics is shown to help. Overall, it is important to pay more attention to the microbiota, as it is a guarantee of human health and longevity.
Coronavirus disease is a rapidly growing worldwide pandemic due to severe pulmonary and syndrome coronavirus 2, henceforth increased pessimism and high loss of lives. It was first discovered in Wuhan (China) in a cluster of pneumonia patients with acute respiratory illness. The pandemic presents an unrivaled challenge to public healthcare and food systems (Alcendor, 2020). As governments try to curb this scourge through border closures, trade restrictions, and confinement measures, it has crippled economies. Beyond impacting the economy and healthcare, it has debilitating effects on many families globally.
Disparities in knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) levels exist regarding COVID. White people are perceived to likely have high knowledge and confidence associated with a high level of education and income compared to their non-white counterparts, who were likely to have a low level of education and attitude but are viewed as high practice responders (Alcendor, 2020). Race, sex, education, income, health insurance status, and political views are all associated with KAPs.
Hispanic and African- Americans have a higher infection rate and the number of deaths, despite being minority races. African-Americans had many deaths in Chicago and Louisiana despite being a minority, consisting of roughly a third of the population. These undermine the social determinants in health, socio-economic disparities, and prevalent racial disparities in health outcomings in the USA. In NEW YORK, 34% of COVID-related deaths were Hispanics, who consist of almost a third of the population (Alobuia et al., 2020).
Concerning knowledge of COVID, a higher percentage of white people had a slightly higher knowledge than Hispanics or African-Americans, who scored lower in a study done by the Kaiser Family Foundation KFF Coronavirus poll conducted between 11 and 15 march 2020 on people living in the USA. Its, therefore, easy to say a majority of White people had exposure to information on COVID compared to their Hispanic and African-American counterparts. The socio-demographical racial disparities are evident as areas with a high population of Hispanics and African-Americans lacked the correct knowledge on the COVID virus.
Univariate analysis shows that African-Americans and Hispanics have a higher attitude towards COVID, positive or negative, than the White race. These can be highly attributed to the higher number of white people with higher health insurance than other races in the US. Similarly, income highly affects attitude, and those with high income annually were fewer attitudes than small-income earners (Alobuia et al., 2020). Higher levels of education and political stands are some of the major factors leading to a higher attitude among Whites than other races.
Hispanic and African-Americans have a higher practice rate than Whites in the US. These can be attributed to exposure to the effects of the virus and not knowledge of the virus. The correlation between knowledge and practice is minimal in this case (Alobuia et al., 2020). COVID has affected a lot of social norms and cultural practices among minority races more than whites, hence the higher number of practices among them. In conclusion, despite having lower knowledge and more negative experiences, minority races are likely to engage in safe practices to minimize the spread and infection of COVID.
Many measures have been put in place to minimize the spread of COVID. These directives may reduce the spread but having the correct knowledge and a positive attitude can affect how we relate to COVID. It also leads to more empowerment and inclusivity in decision-making among minorities. Racial disparities in KAP exist globally. A racial and financial divergence exists in the degrees of KAPs connected with COVID-19. More work is expected to distinguish instructive apparatuses customized to explicit racial and socio-economic groups.
References
Alobuia, W., Dalva-Baird, N., Forrester, J., Bendavid, E., Bhattacharya, J., & Kebebew, E. (2020). Racial disparities in knowledge, attitudes and practices related to COVID-19 in the USA. Journal of Public Health, 42(3), 470-478. Web.
Alcendor, D. (2020). Racial Disparities-Associated COVID-19 Mortality among Minority Populations in the US. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(8), 2442. Web.