Assignment Task:
Respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days that chose a different national healthcare issue/stressor than you selected. Explain how their chosen national healthcare issue/stressor may also impact your work setting and what (if anything) is being done to address the national healthcare issue/stressor. Need Assignment Help?
National Healthcare Issue and Its Impact on the Work Setting
Many rural communities in the United States struggle to access basic healthcare services easily. Despite comprising nearly 20% of the U.S. population, rural residents often face barriers such as geographic isolation, healthcare provider shortages, and transportation difficulties that limit their access to timely and appropriate care. Coombs et al. (2022) suggest that rugged individualism and stigma surrounding medical care are even more prevalent in rural areas, such as Montana. Often, people refuse treatment due to a lack of trust in doctors or hospitals and believe the medical system does not consider their values.
As our area is both urban and rural, this particular stressor poses significant challenges to carrying out operations at our facility. Many rural patients have advanced disease because their care was delayed, resulting in numerous preventable emergency visits and hospital stays. The pressure on clinical teams increases, which can lead to a shortage of resources. Sometimes, a rural patient who has not kept their diabetes under control can delay seeking treatment because of transport difficulties. This can result in emergency care being required in the hospital. It influences how well patients do and also places great demands on our staff and facilities.
Geographic location, the ability to manage finances, and the ability to read health information effectively are among the main social factors affecting this problem. People in rural regions commonly earn less money, face difficulties getting to services, and rarely have continuous access to guides that help them understand health matters (Gizaw et al., 2022). Due to these factors, healthcare is often inaccessible or underutilized, thereby exacerbating the disparities between individuals. Not knowing the value of routine screenings results in more cases being found at an advanced stage, making treatment longer, more difficult, and more costly.
Health System Response and Implemented Changes
Our healthcare system employs several key approaches to address the ongoing issue of limited primary healthcare in rural areas and reduce disparities in care. Because many rural patients face difficulties due to distance and cultural barriers, the first step was to introduce telemedicine services. As a result, patients can see primary care doctors, specialists, and mental health experts locally without having to travel far. For example, we established a virtual program that enables diabetic patients in remote areas to consult with providers, submit their glucose readings online, and have their medications adjusted remotely. Consequently, fewer patients miss their appointments, and the quality of care has increased.
To reach people who do not regularly have access to hospitals, we set up mobile clinics in rural counties. These clinics provide preventive care through vaccinations, screenings, and health education. As part of this, a team regularly visited rural farmers who frequently had to drive 45 miles or more for medical services. These clinics are staffed by rotating teams of nurses and nurse practitioners, improving access and trust in the healthcare system by maintaining a consistent presence.
To address problems related to cultural differences and a lack of understanding of health information, our organization now provides cultural competency training to all medical staff. The training emphasizes respectful interaction, humility, and providing care that is culturally sensitive and values-based, tailored to the needs of rural settings. Now, medical providers are paying attention to how stoicism and self-reliance influence decisions about seeking healthcare.
Additionally, we enhanced our information-sharing systems between clinics and hospitals by upgrading the EHR, allowing rural primary care physicians to view all details of their patients' hospital visits. As a result, patients are less likely to repeat the same services, and their care remains uninterrupted. Thus, such joint steps highlight how the healthcare sector handles one of its most difficult ongoing challenges.
References:
Coombs, N. C., Campbell, D. G., & Caringi, J. (2022). A qualitative study of rural healthcare providers' views of social, cultural, and programmatic barriers to healthcare access. BMC Health Services Research, 22(1).
Gizaw, Z., Astale, T., & Kassie, G. M. (2022). What improves access to primary healthcare services in rural communities? A systematic review. BMC Primary Care, 23(1).