Select a vulnerable population in your community and complete the Community Health Resources and Underserved Communities assignment.
Objectives:
1. Identify an underserved population.
2. Identify resources available for a selected underserved community.
3. Discuss the impact of resources on the quality of care for a selected underserved group.
Instructions:
Obtain the required information and write a 3–4-page paper (excluding references) using APA format (Watch Out For Your Letter Cases).
The following information should be obtained:
1. Select one underserved population group in your community. Examples include the older
adult, children, pregnant women, persons with mental health disorders, persons of low
socioeconomic status, minorities, personal residing in rural areas, or the uninsured.
2. Identify the following information related to the underserved population selected:
a. Describe the group selected. This should include statistical information about the group
and why they are considered underserved.
b. Identify and then describe the community resources available to meet the primary health
care needs and social service needs of the group.
c. Describe how nurses might use the resources identified.
d. Describe how the resources impact the quality of health care for the selected group.
3. Write a brief report to summarize the findings.
4. Citations in text should be used when
appropriate.
5. Include a list of references using APA format.
MODULE 9: CONCEPTS OF COMMUNITY HEALTH, DIVERSITY AND VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
Introduction
Population health has been defined as “the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group” (Kindig, & Stoddart, 2003). Population health is focused on working with entire communities or populations to improve health. A major priority in working with populations is to identify and reduce and disparities that occur within the population or community. Some factors that influence disparities include social, environmental, and cultural differences in populations and communities. It has been estimated that up to 70% of avoidable mortality is related to health disparities (McGinnis, Williams-Russo, & Knickerman, 2002).
KEY POINTS IN THIS SECTION
• Diversity
• Vulnerable Populations
o The older adult
o Rural communities
o Underserved communities
o Disparities in health care
• Violence as a Healthcare Problem
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aims to eliminate health disparities for vulnerable populations. Vulnerable populations can be ethnic minorities or related to socio-economics, age, gender, disability status and other populations. Vulnerability puts these populations at increased risk for poor health (Shi & Stevens, 2010)
This unit will help you learn about vulnerable populations and the factors that put these groups at increased risk for poor health outcomes. You will learn about population in your own communities and identify resources that may be available in your communities.
Objectives
Upon completion of this module, the student will be able to:
• Identify underserved populations in the community.
• Discuss strategies for reducing health disparities for at-risk populations.
• Discuss community resources for identified high risk populations.
• Discuss safety issues related to polypharmacy for the older adult.
Quote to Consider
There is a hugely underserved population out there… those who are the least capable of paying, pay the highest.”
~ James Cameron
Read It
• Rector & Stanley:
o Chapter 5: Transcultural Nursing
o Chapter 18: Violence and Abuse
o Chapter 23: Working with Vulnerable People
• Kearney-Nunnery
o Chapter 14: Population Health
o Chapter 18: Healthcare Reform and Global Issues
See It
• Use the following website to identify if your community or state has areas designated as Medically Underserved or Health Professional Shortage areas by the Health Resources and Services Administration. Consider the impact of these shortage areas on the health of the community.
o https://datawarehouse.hrsa.gov/tools/analyzers/geo/ShortageArea.aspx
o Health Provider Shortage areas, Health Resources and Services Administration
• Use the following website to learn more about health disparities/vulnerable populations.
o http://www.who.int/environmental_health_emergencies/vulnerable_groups/en/
• References:
• 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Population health. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dph/index.html
• 2. Kearney-Nunnery, R. (2020). Advancing your career: Concepts of professional nursing (7th ed.). F. A. Davis.
• 3. Kindig D, & Stoddart G. (2003). What is population health? American Journal of Public Health, 93, (3), 380-383.
• 4. Rector, C. & Stanley, M.J. (2022). Community and public health nursing: Promoting the public’s health (10th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
• 5. Shi, L., & Stevens, G. D. (2010). Vulnerable populations in the United States. (2nd ed.), San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.