Category: Health

It is common to find modern communities experiencing diverse social challenges ranging from education to security. This discussion post identifies hand-washing hygiene among children as a significant well-being challenge to many societies. Specifically, young learners lack the adequate skills and knowledge required to maintain high health standards in public entities (Manandhar & Chandyo, 2017). A tactical plan is required for protecting children against outbreaks of diseases. In this strategy, participants will include medical practitioners, administration officials from representing schools, parents, and young learners (Noguchi et al., 2021). It is through hand-washing hygiene that learners will ensure accuracy in reducing the spread of Covid-19. In essence, an objective health improvement plan would include a structured communication process of information awareness with positive outcome standards measured in reducing contagious illnesses among young learners.

The structure of an effective plan should ensure the comprehensive integration of all stakeholders relevant to the social project. As mentioned earlier, medical practitioners, such as pediatricians, public health experts, young learners, and representatives from schools, will contribute to improving hand-washing hygiene. For instance, public health experts will demonstrate how and when learners should ensure cleaning their hands (Noguchi et al., 2021). Children will also be actively involved to ensure firsthand learning from professionals in the health sector. Administrative officials from academic institutions will also be expected to learn a modeling approach to improve other hygiene practices for learners. In essence, the communitys health improvement plan will ensure exclusive stakeholder integration for achieving outlined goals.

Moreover, implementing the public initiative would require a coherent and reliable process that can sustain health and hygiene practices as a value. Improving community health among children would require intensive information awareness among relevant stakeholders (Noguchi et al., 2021). For instance, the improvement process would require a brief meeting with parents for active contribution in implementing hygiene practices at home. School administrators will also be contacted to develop useful learning materials regarding best hand-washing practices. The process would end with practical sessions with different age categories among young learners (Manandhar & Chandyo, 2017). This approach is tactical for developing an improvement plan consistent, reliable, and available for both teachers and parents. Most importantly, the improvement process should ensure an ultimate reduction of high risks in spreading contagious diseases once schools reopen.

The health improvement plan will also measure the outcome standards of the initiative in terms of reduced risk of spreading contagious diseases among beneficiaries. In this case, children who practice the best hand-washing techniques will contribute to a healthy surrounding (Manandhar & Chandyo, 2017). For instance, the social initiative will enhance hygiene standards against Covid-19 among junior academic institutions. Schools that implement the improvement plans recommendations successfully will also reduce medical expenses captured in budgets for operating a public institution. Authorities will be keen on how teachers and parents engage and teach children hand-washing hygiene (Noguchi et al., 2021). Public healthcare will improve significantly, as stakeholders will be informed and acquire sufficient knowledge regarding community participation in social initiatives.

In conclusion, a community health problem affects all individuals irrespective of economic or socio-cultural backgrounds. The ongoing pandemic illustrates the essence of togetherness in fighting a contagious disease. A health improvement plan is vital for protecting vulnerable populations such as the disabled and children. This discussion post presents an exclusive hand-washing strategy intended to improve childrens hygiene. Objective stakeholder integration outlines a structured communication process for information awareness among young learners. Most importantly, the community health improvement plan is expected to develop a reliable, consistent, and sustainable strategy for ensuring childrens medical well-being.

References

Manandhar, P., & Chandyo, R. K. (2017). Hand washing knowledge and practice among school going children in Duwakot, Bhaktapur: A cross sectional study. Journal of Kathmandu Medical College, 6(3), 110-115. Web.

Noguchi, Y., Nonaka, D., Kounnavong, S., & Kobayashi, J. (2021). Effects of hand-washing facilities with water and soap on diarrhea incidence among children under five years in Lao Peoples Democratic Republic: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(2), 687. Web.

Good oral health is the foundation of overall health excellence. It as well requires launching programs and initiatives focusing on finding ways to prevent serious oral health concerns and mitigating their negative consequences. However, the central objective of such programs is becoming the source of funding for community-based research in order to achieve the purposes mentioned above. This paper will provide an overview of three potential sources for financing oral health research such as federal funding agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private foundations.

The most influential funding agencies are those supported by national governments and driven by state budgets. They can be represented by initiatives and programs, which, in most cases, focus on solving clearly determined problems and achieving particular objectives. Some examples of federal funding agencies include Office for Minority Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Issel, 2013). These agencies concentrate on improving overall health excellence. However, they as well pay significant attention to particular sectors of the healthcare industry. For instance, Office for Minority Health (2013) launched programs for educating oral health professionals with the purpose of lifting language barriers and providing minorities with equal and adequate access to care. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) initiated a program for collecting oral health data among different social groups that can be used as the foundation and driver for positive changes in community healthcare and plan to spend $30 million to improve oral health conditions (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.). CDC is also known for supporting health promotion programs such as Healthy People 2020 paying significant attention to oral health issues. Funding cycles differ from one to ten years in length. Both offer the provision of technical and educative assistance if necessary investment in the development of healthcare professionals and community-based health research.

Another potential source of funding is the non-governmental sector. It is represented by such organizations as American Association for Community Dental Programs and American Dental Association. The focus of these associations is made on improving the nations oral health and increasing awareness of issues related to dental health. The foundation of an organizations operation is voluntary membership. That is why charitable assistance is the major portion of their funds (ADA Foundation, 2016). It is imperative to note that application is unlimited so that every citizen is free to join these institutions. Because their operations are limited to community levels, the significance of their contribution to community-based oral health research as well as control over funding them cannot be underestimated (American Association for Community Dental Programs, n.d.).

Finally, there are private foundations such as Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and W. K. Kellogg Foundation (Issel, 2013). W.K. Kellogg Foundation, for example, focuses on drawing attention to childrens oral health issues. Funding opportunities center around grants for developing the area of healthcare mentioned above spending more than $200 million annually on achieving purposes of the organization and financing grants (WKKF, 2016). As for Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, it focuses on preventative oral health measures by introducing innovations to the healthcare sector. Just like W.K. Kellogg Foundation, it is the sponsor of community-based research funding local agencies and issuing grants (RWJF, 2016). Funding cycles of both foundations are one year in length.

To sum up, private and non-governmental agencies are the best option for funding community-based oral health research. Even though their influence and funds are limited, especially if compared to governmental programs, they are more flexible due to short funding cycles and easy applicability. Moreover, these foundations are more likely to sponsor outstanding ideas because they are less disposed to bureaucratic procedures. Finally, federal agencies focus on supporting nationwide programs paying little attention to local communities.

References

ADA Foundation. (2016). Charitable assistance. Web.

American Association for Community Dental Programs. (n.d.) AACDP: About. Web.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). CDC  budget request overview. Web.

Issel, L. M. (2013). Health program planning and evaluation: A practical, systematic approach for community health (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

Office of Minority Health. (2013). National standards for culturally and linguistically appropriate services in health and health care: A blueprint for advancing and sustaining CLAS Policy and Practice. Web.

RWJF. (2016). Funding opportunities. Web.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). HHS Oral Health Initiative. Web.

WKKF. (2016). What we do. Web.

The motivation for assessing health surveillance frameworks is to guarantee that issues of general wellbeing significance are being checked. Guidelines for evaluating surveillance systems are being overhauled to address the requirement for i) the reconciliation of reconnaissance and wellbeing data frameworks, ii) the foundation of information benchmarks, iii) the electronic trade of wellbeing information, iv) changes in the destinations of general wellbeing observation to encourage the reaction of public health to rising wellbeing dangers. Modeling is a generally utilized instrument to bolster the assessment of different malady administration exercises. The estimation of epidemiological models lies in their capacity to study the sample population and furnish leaders with information about the attacks and effects of control systems (Behavioral risk factor surveillance system, 2008). To be helpful, models should be fit for specific reasons, checked, and accepted.

Models provide experimental counsel; thus, the results must be assessed in conjunction with information from exploratory studies, field experience, and experimental astuteness (Issel, 2013). Approval of epidemiological models is critical to improving trust in model yields. An epidemiological model is characterized as a numerical and/or intelligent representation of the study of disease, the transmission of sickness transmission and its related procedures. These quantitative models give a representation of the transmission elements among gatherings of creatures in time and space. An epidemiological model in this way encourages the assessment of the adequacy of the potential control measures and gives appraisals without bounds size, length, and land degree of a flare-up given the use of particular control measures.

The appropriate model depends on the health challenge. For instance, while deterministic models, which are in view of normal, might be valuable in understanding fundamental disease flow, they have restricted use. When epidemiological information is accessible, detailed models that give a scope of conceivable pestilences can be created. The expanding modernity of PCs, with prominent acknowledgment of the significance of spatial components in the spread of diseases, and enthusiasm implies that models, which fuse spatial segments, influence epidemiological studies.

Choosing the appropriate model for the proposed project

Information from a surveillance framework can be utilized

Guide prompt activity for occurrences of health significance.

Measure the weight of an infection, incorporating changes in related variables, the recognizable proof of the populaces of high hazard, and the distinguishing proof of new or the rising health concerns.

Screen patterns in the weight of sickness, including the recognition of scourges (flare-ups) and pandemics.

Guide the arranging, execution, and assessment of projects to anticipate and control the sickness, harm, or antagonistic introduction.

Epidemiologic reconnaissance is the deliberate accumulation, recording, examination, understanding, and mirroring the present status of a group or the populace (National Oral Health Surveillance System, n.d.). The extent of epidemiologic observation has developed from an underlying spotlight on irresistible infection checking and mediation to a more comprehensive degree that incorporates constant ailments, wounds, ecological exposures, and social elements that influence public health. Observation depends on both aloof and dynamic information accumulation forms. Surveillance is an instrument used to identify and screen pestilences, and health crises. This procedure incorporates suspicion of an irresistible disease, affirmation of infection, illness reporting, case examination, counteractive action, and control to constrain the spread of the ailment, and criticism to teach specialists and medical service suppliers about the epidemiologic attributes of ailment and its weight in the populace.

References

Behavioral risk factor surveillance system: BRFSS. (2008). Web.

Issel, L. M. (2013). Health program planning and evaluation: A practical, systematic approach for community health. (3rd ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS). (n.d.). Web.

Overview

AMN Healthcare is an American company that provides medical staffing services. The company addresses strategies and crises that require increased qualified medical personnel. The organization promotes improvement in healthcare: school segment, financial segment, leadership and qualifications, and educational segment. The company was founded in 1985 and started simultaneously: the first traveling nurse was Doris Ward. Gradually, the company expands its reach, first at the state level and then spreading throughout the country. In the mid-2000s, the company grew and improved its human resources network with PROs. Over the last decade, AMN Healthcare has acquired several smaller companies, which have improved its leadership and human resources strategies.

AMN Healthcare has a typical structure: CEO Susan Salka, with a board of directors. The next level has divisions responsible for different goals: CIO & Digital, Talent, Allied, Locum Tenes, and many others. At this level, Jeffrey Knudson (CFO) is in charge, reporting to the following two significant branches: Enterprise strategy and Finance. AMN Healthcares mission is to use the best talent and ideas to help healthcare organizations optimize their operations (AMN Healthcare, 2022). In addition, the organization focuses on the need to empower every employee. The companys vision is to innovate the organization and successfully orient it toward the right health care goals. The company adheres to various values: respect, trust, customer focus, passion, continuous improvement, and innovation.

Strategic Planning

The planning starts with a grounding phase, in which the coordinators explain the solutions that would be beneficial to the company. In addition, the coordinators listen to the proposals of the future project participants. In a second phase, an evaluation of the environment takes place: it will be carried out with the involvement of several groups (Ebender & Smith, 2015). The care specialists and allies (nursing staff) are assigned the implementers sent to the segment to be changed. It is important to involve IT specialists who can optimize the search for employees. In addition, they will be given the role of creating intelligent tools to transform the analyzed environment. In addition, point managers, change control and tracking volunteers, and support from partner companies will be involved.

The planning stage will take about a month: during this period, the coordinator assesses the degree of preparedness of the parties involved, propose new mechanisms for managing human and other resources, and lay down strategic goals. It is worth noting the number of potential resources: they will consist of medical personnel (care specialists and allies), the management and optimization segment, as well as from financial investments. It is vital to leverage monetary resources as rationally as possible, as they may be needed to expand the skills of the focus organizations staff (Rasouli et al., 2020). It is a comprehensive stage consisting of formulating questions, finding answers, and specifying the steps to be taken. At this stage, the coordinators also establish the criteria for measuring the result: for example, whether enough volunteers are involved in evaluating changes; how often after optimizing the search, customers turn to the companys services.

In the last two planning phases, reserved for communicating the vision of the future and responsibility for change, the coordinators have the most crucial role. Their primary task is to create small groups and lay down the idea of what the outcome should be. It is essential to find implementation support and move quickly into change (Ebender & Smith, 2015). If optimization was laid down  it should be started the day after approval, and the first results should be evaluated in 1.5 months. If it was required to develop evaluation plans for implementing a new program  the results could be obtained in 2-3 weeks. The managers of the first level and regional coordinators will make the final decision.

References

AMN Healthcare. (2022). Our core values. AMN Healthcare. Web.

Ebener, D. R., & Smith, F. L. (2015). Strategic planning: An interactive process for leaders. Paulist Press.

Rasouli, A., Khoonsari, M. H. K., Ashja, a. S., Saraee, F., & Ahmadi, F. Z. (2020). The importance of strategic planning and management in health: A systematic review. Journal of Health Management and Importance, 7(1), 1-9.

The Partners

A partnership is defined as an arrangement between two or more parties. Individuals come together to achieve a common goal. The parties involved in a partnership should have a personal stake in the arrangement. In addition, they should be willing to work together towards the common objective (Brandstetter et al., 2006). There should also be an understanding of each partners contribution and the value each brings to the partnership.

Partnerships are able to advance a cause, access funding, and tackle difficult issues. In a corroborative partnership, none of the individuals should take precedence over the others. Instead, all stakeholders should be treated equally (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, 2014).

The proposed project aims at improving the dental health of children and the elderly. It will be a partnership between three stakeholders. They include a financier, a dentist, and the County Health Department. The partners will be identified on the basis of their contribution to the organization. Their assessment will be based on the expected state of engagements with each other (Brandstetter et al., 2006). The evaluation should focus on the expected outcomes of the dental project, taking into account the partners degree of fit among organizations. The fit is the match between the organizational cultures and values that form the foundation of sustainable bonds among the partners (Garrett, n.d.). The skills of the stakeholders should be aligned to the demands of the dental practice.

The first partner is Dr. Sarabjit Thind, who will fund and house the project. The funding can be from their personal contributions or from financial agencies (Appalachian Regional Commission, n.d.). The provision of funds is critical to the success of the practice (Garrett, n.d.). The second partner will be Dr. Navnoor Gill, who is a dentist. Given that the project targets children and the elderly, the professional is a specialist in the field of geriatric and pediatric dentistry. The choice of the specific skill-sets is based on the prevalence of dental problems among the elderly and the children (Association of State & Territorial Dental Directors, n.d.). The third partner is the County Health Department in Dayton. The agency will provide guidance on dental and oral health practices and policies. Partnering with the Department will provide linkages with other stakeholders in the dental care practice, such as suppliers and dental associations (Garrett, n.d.).

The Location of the Practice

The dental practice will be located at 8340 Yankee Street, Centerville, Ohio. Dr. Sarabjit Thinds clinic at Dayton Dental and Orthodontics Hospital is where the proposed practice will be situated. The location makes logistic sense given that it is an already existing practice. As such, the proposed dental clinic will not require new equipment, tools, and space. The location is accessible to patients. The clinic is located on the ground floor of the hospital, which is also accessible to people with disability. The identified premise has adequate space to hold several consultation rooms, a reception, and an operating theatre. The practice has adequate equipment to meet any dental emergencies.

Conclusion

Parties involved in a partnership should have a personal stake in the arrangement. The contribution of each partner should also be taken into consideration. As such, their value to the partnership will be determined. Joint ventures vary with regards to their success and the barriers faced. The proposed dental project is anchored on committed partners who are determined to successfully deliver oral health to their community.

References

Appalachian Regional Commission. (n.d.). How to write a grant proposal. Web.

Association of State & Territorial Dental Directors. (n.d.). State & territorial dental public health activities. Web.

Brandstetter, R., Brujin, H., Byrne, M., Deslauriers, H., Forschner, M., Machacova, J.,&Scoppetta, A. (2006). Successful partnerships: A guide. Web.

Garrett, M. (n.d.). Role of dental public health professionals in community alliances. Web.

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. (2014). Collaborative partners. Web.

Introduction

Monitoring, comprehending, and managing variations in the medical field are vital aspects of the health profession. Alterations in medical variables, for instance, the level of blood sugar or blood pressure might be because of variations in the underlying conditions of the patients or biological progressions, flaws, or random disparities. Management systems ought to have the capacity to assess dissimilarities in the medical variable (that is, spot a signal) from the entailed aspects to back suitable medical decision-making (Portela, Pronovost, Woodcock, Carter, & Dixon-Woods, 2015). Monitoring structures ought to as well lessen false negatives and positives that might emanate from background noises that could result in unsuitable decision-making in the healthcare system. In contemporary times, different quality improvement tools are being employed by health care leaders to improve the care given to patients.

Control Charts

A Control chart represents a quality improvement tool that differentiates between two bases of variation: common cause deviation, which is fundamental to every progression, and special cause discrepancy, occurring from an aspect external to the practice. While a reduction of common cause deviation calls for the alteration of the fundamental progression in some essential ways, reducing special cause discrepancy requires establishing and acting on the extrinsic aspect (Longest & Darr, 2014). Control charts offer a representation of the variable with time and show clearly the form of variation being addressed as a person progresses with unremitting improvement. Comprehending the variation is vital to the successful application of control charts. For instance, in a case where a health facility desires to reduce the time taken to admit patients, assessing the average time taken in admitting one patient every day should be the first step after which the process variable ought to be plotted on a control chart for a set number of days such as one month. Understanding details in variation, for example, the causes of the holdup, is beneficial in generating improvements.

Pareto Diagrams

A Pareto diagram signifies a form of bar chart where different aspects that result in an overall impact are arranged in order with regard to the magnitude of their influence. Such an arrangement assists in the identification of the crucial few, the aspects that necessitate great concentration (Portela et al., 2015). The application of a Pareto diagram enables healthcare teams to focus their efforts on the aspects that result in utmost impact and convey a justification for centering on some areas. For instance, improvement teams that intend to boost the quality of care in a health institution may not be sure of the aspect to handle first. Following a collection of data on the causes of poor care, the team could produce a Pareto chart. From the Pareto chart, the team may establish that the major cause of poor quality of care is nurse burnout. In this regard, they could advocate for the hiring of more nurses and the improvement of their working conditions as a way of enhancing the quality of care.

Scatter Plots

A scatter plot denotes a graphic representation of the connection between two variables. They assist health improvement teams in the identification and comprehension of the cause-effect affiliations (Longest & Darr, 2014). The variable that the team is attempting to control is plotted on the horizontal axis whereas the one that is anticipated to react to the made changes is marked on the vertical axis. For instance, the improvement team may use a scatter plot to determine whether delays in the hospital are caused by poor bed management or diagnostics. If it is established that poor bed management causes delays, more resources, and a better arrangement could be implemented to decrease delays considerably.

Conclusion

Successful management systems should regularly assess dissimilarities in the therapeutic variable (that is, discover an indicator) from the entailed facets to back excellent medical decision-making. Control charts, Pareto diagrams, and scatter plots are some of the quality improvement tools that are being applied by health care leaders to boost the care provided to patients in the modern times.

References

Longest, B., & Darr, K. (2014). Managing health services organizations and health systems (6th ed.). Baltimore, MD: Health Professions Press.

Portela, M. C., Pronovost, P. J., Woodcock, T., Carter, P., & Dixon-Woods, M. (2015). How to study improvement interventions: A brief overview of possible study types. BMJ Quality & Safety, 24(5), 325-336.

Everybody is entitled to good medical care since it is a basic human need. However, this is not the case entirely in the United States since there are communities such as the Native Americans who do not receive adequate health care compared to other groups. Consequently, the Indian Health Service (IHS), a branch within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has a responsibility of meeting the medical needs of Native Americans in the country. The IHS Loan Repayment Program is one strategy the agency uses by helping health practitioners pay for their student loans in exchange for full-time service obligations.

One of the primary challenges that American Indians and Alaska Natives face is the insufficiency of medical personnel. This program helps in resolving the crisis by attracting the services of freshly graduated healthcare professionals who would appreciate the $20,000 offered to them each year (Smith, n.d.). This is motivating enough for nurses and doctors to clear their student loans while making a two-year commitment of full-time service to the communities. Moreover, the groups are assured of the best medical assistance since the program is sponsored by IHS, equipping the volunteering medics with high-quality resources.

However, assigning a provider to the communities for a period of only two years as stipulated in the program has its own challenges. For instance, replacing doctors in a health center biannually consumes time and resources in training before assigning them to the dedicated sites. Additionally, the initiative interferes with the continuity of treatment for long-term patients to whom the same group of health experts has attended (Zabat, 2021). Although medical procedures are standardized, treatment approaches differ from one doctor to another, and changing physicians might disrupt the therapy process.

Finally, most of the healthcare professionals assigned to these sites are not natives and therefore face challenges related to culture. Ethnic and racial disparity is an example of an issue that has denied the American Indians access to medical care since most of them cannot afford insurance coverage. Moreover, some of the communities in rural areas are still attached to their traditional lifestyles which conflict with modern medications. The best solution to this issue is offering scholarships to qualified Alaska Natives and American Indians who can then act as a bridge between other healthcare experts and the communities.

References

Smith, M. (n.d.) Native Americans: A crisis in health equity. Americanbar. Web.

Zabat, G. (2021). Cultural barriers challenge Native Americans seeking cancer treatment. Indianz. Web.

Introduction

The Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors(ASTDD) along with the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) devised the National Public Health Surveillance System(NOHS) in 1999 ( CSTE, 2013). It is used for measuring the prevalence of oral diseases and the effectiveness of the oral health care system, as well as, the state of water fluoridation (CDC, 2015). NOHSS is designed for the analysis of national and state-level oral health data. Oral health indicators can be divided into three different groups: adult indicators, child indicators, and water fluoridation indicators. This paper will discuss the nine oral health indicators in these categories and propose a new one.

Adult Indicators

Dental visits among adults allow monitoring the utilization of oral health services. Frequent use of dental services is commonly associated with better oral health for the adult population from all social strata (CSTE, 2013). Teeth cleaning is another important health indicator that is used to assess the number of adults who have cleaned their teeth during the period of the last year (CSTE, 2013). It is being used along with the dental visit indicator; therefore, its inclusion in NOHS is essential. It is also very important to measure the rates of the loss of 6 or more permanent teeth among adults because even a partial dental loss can significantly compromise the nutritional status. Another parameter of dental health is the obvious signs of tooth decay. It is related to the reduction of the quality of life and, therefore, must be included in NOHS. Complete tooth loss indicator helps to monitor the percentage of the adult population from 65 to 74 years who had a permanent loss of their teeth (CSTE, 2013).

Child Indicators

Caries Experience is the indicator that helps to track the treated and untreated tooth decay for both preschool and school-age children (CSTE, 2013). It was included only in the child category because of the high likelihood of experiencing caries in the adult age. Untreated tooth decay indicator helps to reduce the proportion of children with untreated decay of the primary teeth (CSTE, 2013). The presence of sealants on permanent teeth is the factor that is being measured by the dental sealants indicator. It is essential to have this question in NOHS because it would help increase the number of children with dental sealants on one or more of their permanent first molar teeth (CSTE, 2013).

Water Fluoridation Indicator

Water fluoridation indicator is being used to provide information on the state and country rates of water fluoridation (CSTE, 2013). The data is being gathered every two years, and it serves to reflect the proportion of the United States population that is supplied with the optimum level of fluoridated water (CSTE, 2013). It is essential to have the question of water fluoridation on NOHSS to develop a better understanding of the relationship between the addition of fluoride to water and the prevention of tooth decay.

SES Indicator

Various researchers have argued that the difference in access to health care between people with different incomes is the main factor behind the oral health disparities (Hudson, Stockard, & Ramberg, 2007). The inclusion of the socioeconomic status (SES) indicator in NOHS will help to establish a better connection between people from various social positions and the state of their dental health. It will also allow developing a comprehensive approach towards the elimination of the oral health disparities.

References

CDC. (2015). National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS). Web.

CSTE. (2013). Proposed new and revised indicators for the National Oral Health Surveillance System. Web.

Hudson, K., Stockard, J., & Ramberg, Z. (2007). The Impact of Socioeconomic Status and Race-Ethnicity on Dental Health. Sociological Perspectives, 50(1), 7-25.

Black women worldwide have problems with access to high-level health care, which impairs their health during pregnancy and childbirth and poses risks to the childs health. Children are the future of modern society, and every woman deserves quality care to ensure her well-being and that of her child. Systematic adjustments, starting with health care, aimed at improving the well-being of black women and improving the accessibility of quality health care will improve maternal health and womens possibilities in this matter.

A literature search and review were conducted to examine the subject presented. PubMed and Science Direct databases were used to find suitable sources. Sources had to meet specific criteria for inclusion in work: they should be published in English no more than five years ago in peer-reviewed journals and correspond to the research topic. As a result, four sources were selected that entered the annotated bibliography. They present several perspectives for the issue of black maternal health  understanding factors such as economic status, cultural and social aspects, the influence of stereotypes, and the subject of intersectionality. While making recommendations for changes, the authors agree that a systematic approach is needed to address existing problems.

Bullock, H. E., Reppond, H. A., Truong, S. V., & Singh, M. R. (2020). An intersectional analysis of the feminization of homelessness and mothers housing precarity. Journal of Social Issues, 76, 835858. Web.

The authors draw attention to the tendency of feminization and racialization in the prevalence of homelessness. They conducted interviews with homeless mothers to investigate the causes of homelessness, factors of gender and race, and their correlation. Bullock et al. (2020) focused on particular sides  economic problems, housing issues, and weak welfare programs. They identified many causes of homelessness among mothers connected with intersectionality. The authors central argument claims that there is a need for holistic approaches to address the concerns of inequality and vulnerabilities. Their results show that not only significant problems such as job loss but also difficulties in dealing with more minor issues such as fines have a significant impact on well-being.

The source under consideration is of interest for studying the theme of Black Maternal Health. It provides an overview of the pathway and problems that worsen the situation of black mothers. Homelessness is a critical issue that affects health, and often this problem exists in conjunction with others, like access to medicine or nutritional matters. The difficulties identified prove the need for systemic changes to improve maternal health. The authors also put forward proposals for potential solutions, such as investing in programs for housing affordability, providing legal aid, and strengthening social support policies.

The source has strengths and weaknesses that influence the assessment of its value. The article does not have significant gaps, and its strength in the method used as it helps to understand the experience of the considered population better. Moreover, the advantage is addressing intersectionality, including factors of race and gender. However, the article has limitations and leaves open questions about the influence of other factors, such as relationship with a partner or sexual orientation. Researchers also recognize the homogeneity of their sample, as all women spoke English and were single. Although they had the experience of homelessness, they had at least someplace to live.

Destine, S., Brooks, J., & Rogers, C. (2020). Black maternal health crisis, COVID-19, and the crisis of care. Feminist Studies, 46(3), 603-614. Web.

The authors provide examples and proof that during the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to barriers established by it, racism continues to have a substantial impact on the health of black mothers. Destine et al. (2020) argue that the pandemic exacerbated existing health problems for black mothers and further complicated the situation for queer, transgender, and undocumented births. As a result, new risks to the health of the mother and child appeared, and the threat to life increased. The authors provide several recommendations to address some of the most significant issues and improve the situation of black mothers.

The source is of interest to the topic, as it discusses additional factors affecting maternal health, particularly the pandemic influence. Moreover, the proposed policy recommendations are also helpful for considering and creating new proposals. While the data presented are the strength of the source, it has several drawbacks. The authors present a literature review rather than a study, which may cause a risk of bias. Moreover, not all identified issues have appropriate recommendations or solutions. The question remains of protecting births from both COVID and maternal health risks. It is necessary to overestimate the authors recommendations considering the restrictions and the pandemic factor to answer it.

Green, T. L., Zapata, J. Y., Brown, H. W., & Hagiwara, N. (2021). Rethinking bias to achieve maternal health equity: Changing organizations, not just individuals. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 137(5), 935940. Web.

The study focuses on the issue of implicit bias, which prevents providing decent care for black women. The authors argue that stereotypes, particularly about health differences, have historical roots but continue to affect health care significantly. The problem is supported by manifestations of racism at other levels. For example, there is still an insufficient number of black physicians in healthcare, which may be due to bias, education unavailability, and other factors (Green et al., 2021). In this regard, the authors of the article offer several recommendations. They aim to transform medical education, particularly the elimination of stereotypes. The proposals also offer increased standardization and accountability of care processes and support for racial diversity among physicians.

The source is of interest for the topic under study, as it carefully examines the causes of the problem from within the medical system. Understanding that racism in the educational system is closely linked to bias in health care is critical and supports the thesis of the need for structural change. The new perspective also expands on possible recommendations to address inadequate care for black maternal health.

This review does not have significant gaps and expands existing research disclosing the theme determined by the authors. The benefits of the source are in view from within healthcare; however, there are limitations as methods to combat implicit bias are still insufficiently effective. Moreover, the authors did not use an intersectional approach but focused precisely on the factor of race. Therefore, in studying the topic, it is essential to consider additional sources and explore influencing factors  the economic situation, relations with a partner, and other aspects.

Parker, A. (2021). Reframing the narrative: Black maternal mental health and culturally meaningful support for wellness. Infant Mental Health Journal, 42(4), 502-516. Web.

The source is considering a new factor in the problem of black maternal health  mental health. The author argues that existing narratives common in culture and society impair the health of mothers and their children and should be changed. Narratives support racism and the myth of white supremacy and ignore the strengths and significance of black mothers, which makes the situation worse. Parker (2021) propose recognizing the existence and influence of cultural oppression, combating economic, political, and cultural pressure, and admitting the significance and strengths of black families.

The article complements the study of black maternal health by presenting the view of mental health and related cultural aspects. This perspective expands the intersectional question and considers society and culture as sources of oppression for black women. Moreover, in presenting an Afrocentric view, the source more deeply explores racial awareness and competence issues, which is its strength. While the recommendations given are valuable, they still need verification in practice, which is a limitation of the source.

References

Bullock, H. E., Reppond, H. A., Truong, S. V., & Singh, M. R. (2020). An intersectional analysis of the feminization of homelessness and mothers housing precarity. Journal of Social Issues, 76, 835858. Web.

Destine, S., Brooks, J., & Rogers, C. (2020). Black maternal health crisis, COVID-19, and the crisis of care. Feminist Studies, 46(3), 603-614. Web.

Green, T. L., Zapata, J. Y., Brown, H. W., & Hagiwara, N. (2021). Rethinking bias to achieve maternal health equity: Changing organizations, not just individuals. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 137(5), 935940. Web.

Parker, A. (2021). Reframing the narrative: Black maternal mental health and culturally meaningful support for wellness. Infant Mental Health Journal, 42(4), 502-516. Web.

Introduction

Despite all concerted efforts to the contrary, reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) failed to take off in the 110^th congress. The Act is basically a commitment by the federal government to provide healthcare services to Indian and Alaskan citizens within the US. With its reauthorization, the overall health of the Native American would improve. In view of this, theres amplified effort to authorize the act in 2009. The main driving force for this effort is the National Congress for American Indians and the National Indian Health Board (Ncai, N.D.).

Benefits of the IHCIA

Reauthorization of the IHCIA is expected to greatly improve health care delivery to the American Indians. Its also expected to mainstream and pave the way for other programs to address the health care problems of the communities. The elderly will benefit from a customized in-home care provision. IHCIA provides for a greater adaptation of the health services to local conditions. All these will result in improved prospects for the American Indians, while reducing the burden on the federal administration. On a grand scale, the wide disparity between the mortality rates of American Indians and the Caucasians is expected to narrow down. So will the five year difference between the life expectancy of the two groups. Suicide cases amongst Indians and Alaskans should also progressively reduce (Ncai, N.D.).

The IHCIA is expected to achieve its objectives through several inherent mechanisms. The improved efficiency it will bring about will feasibly reduce backlogs of health facility needs. It will directly tackle the glaring disparity in the health status of the Indians and their Caucasian counterparts. It is also expected to be a perpetual source of health care through the main prevention and treatment avenues. Tribal populations are likely to benefit from the enhanced and more efficient decision-making processes that IHCIA will provide. IHCIA will also integrate all the health care provided by such bodies as the Indian Health Service, Tribal Organizations and Urban Indian Organization (Ncai, N.D.).

IHCIA and the Snyder Act

Reauthorization of the IHCIA would fall in with USs custom of evaluating and modifying every major law every five to seven years. The process involves analyzing the present law and optimizing it to the changing conditions and needs. Without this process, the mainstream laws can very soon become obsolete and unworkable. The IHCIA last underwent a comprehensive reevaluation in 1992. Since then, proposals to reevaluate it have failed to be passed. Fiscal funding of projects as provided by this act is threatened by the fact that IHCIAs provisions expired in 2001. Indeed, were it not for the Snyder Act (created in 1921), many health-related funds would stall for the American Indians. The Snyder Act provides for a permanent provision of health services to American Indians. It however doesnt provide for an adaptation of the health services to evolving needs (Ncai, N.D.).

Hope for IHCIA

Its in view of all this that IHCIAs leading lobbyists are hoping for a turn of the tide in Obamas forthcoming administration. During Bushs administration, the IHCIA bill was rejected in the 109, 110 and 111^th congress. With a democratic administration coming up, the lobbyists expect better response to the bill. Chief amongst their concerns is the federal budget allocated to IHCIAs functions. Currently, funds for the American Indian health service support come from the 18% of federal budget dedicated to discretionary spending. As matters stand, the appropriation of funds within this fraction leaves many of the lobbyists unsatisfied. In the wake of the recent national credit crunch, the hope is that IHCIA woes will reduce (Jerry, 2008).

Reference

Ncai. Reauthorization of the IHCIA. Web.

Jerry Reynolds (2008). Advocates consider next step in health care bill. Web.