Assignment
Stand-Alone Project: Analysis of a Health Care Threat Confronting America
You should begin working on the Stand-Alone Project early in the course. Each assignment provides a benchmark for completing the Stand-Alone Project in a timely manner while working through the course. You will find this information in the "Stand-Alone Project Benchmark" section of each assignment. This Stand-Alone Project requires you to select a health threat to the American public. You will present a descriptive analysis of its history and current status, outline the social, economic, and political implications for the community-at-large, and describe the issues within the context of the overall health care system. Information may come from many sources, for example books, journals, news media, the Internet, association news, etc.
Be sure to cite all of your sources in APA style.
Part A
Select a health care issue that currently involves the American public: Alcohol and other drug problems, infectious disease control, HIV, tobacco use and smoking, maternal and child health as a social problem, diabetes, clean air and water, and solid and hazardous waste control are only some of the appropriate problem areas and topics that you can select. Then, research the background of the problem you have selected, limiting historical trends to several paragraphs and archival research to publications from the last ten years. (50 points)
Part B
Describe the health problem you have selected, giving close attention to the incidence of it (a measure of new cases of a disease or the frequency of occurrence of disease based on new cases in a particular population within a certain time period) and the prevalence of it (a measure of the extent of a health problem or disease in a population based on the total number of existing cases at a given time). Use examples and statistics from your research, as well as your personal life if appropriate.
Part C
Discuss the implications of the problem. What have been and will be the social, economic, and political implications of the problem for the community-at-large if nothing is done to control it?
Part D
Discuss current solutions or ways of controlling the problem. Describe the steps taken within the public health and other health care system components to control or eradicate the problem. Why haven't these been effective? (100 points) (5 pages) Part E Prepare an outline of a plan that would reduce or eliminate the problem in our society. What would be the estimated economic, social, and political costs associated with your proposed plan?