The Healthy People 2020 Initiative

Although the United States is a leader in healthcare innovation and spends more money on health care than any other industrialized nation, not all people in the United State benefit equally from this progress as a health care disparity exists between racial and ethnic minorities and white Americans. Health care disparity is defined as “a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social or economic disadvantage…adversely affecting groups of people who have systematically experienced greater social and/or economic obstacles to health and/or clean environment based on their racial or ethnic group; religion; socioeconomic status; gender; age; mental health; cognitive, sensory or physical disability; sexual orientation or gender identity; geographic location; or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion” (National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities [NPAEHD], 2011, p. 3). Overwhelming evidence shows that racial and ethnic minorities receive inferior quality health care compared to white Americans, and multiple factors contribute to these disparities, including geography, lack of access to adequate health coverage, communication difficulties between patients and providers, cultural barriers, and lack of access to providers (American College of Physicians,

When it comes to healthcare racial disparities continue to be an ongoing issue. In fact racial disparities have been a topic of discussion since desegregation. The US Department of Health and Human Services, in 1984 published a report that called attention to the healthcare disparities. The report was called Heath, United States 1983(Dougher, 2015). Within the context of the report there lies a passage that describes the major disparities that are within the burden of illness and death that is experienced by African Americans and other minorities, “despite significant progress in the overall health of the nation” (Dougher, 2015). It was evident that there was a serious lack of health care minorities.

The Healthy People 2020 initiative encompasses a holistic approach to promoting good health and preventing disease (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2010). However, when asked to reflect on myself as a role model of healthy behavior a mixed feeling of satisfaction and disappointment emerge. When evaluating my lifestyle choices throughout adulthood there is always a drastic misstep. For example, when I was in the best physical shape - I polluted my body with toxic cigarettes. I felt like a hypocrite every time I would educate my patients on the risk factors of smoking and the benefits of tobacco cessation. So, I quit smoking and then gained forty pounds. This is just one example of the barriers I face when attempting to achieve the

This overview will cover the history, depth and breadth of diabetes along with its impact on the population and determinant data related to the condition. Discussion will be made regarding improvements for this initiative, the impact of health policy, educational programs and recommendations for the future. Finally, the overview will conclude with a discussion on the influence of a Christian worldview.

I spent the past week reviewing all the data I have collected to this point. The data and health needs reported in Healthy People 2020, as well as the epidemiological and community data I collected, convey consistent themes. The HP 2020 topics of injury and violence prevention, hearing and communication disorders, oral health and access to health services all appear to be topics of concern and are identified health needs of the community I am targeting. With epidemiological data showing the rates of autism climbing at steady levels, the need for an increase awareness and planned interventions involving these health topics will be essential to meet the objectives established by the federal government.

For the purpose to this assignment is to explore and analyze a community health organization and determine how it meets the healthy people 2020 goals for vulnerable populations. Children and adolescents are among the vulnerable due to their inability to protect themselves from others. Community health organizations focuses on health education, prevention and promotions for all.

Healthy People 2020 is a promotion to help raise public awareness by providing measureable objectives and goals for individuals to obtain higher qualities of lives, decrease premature deaths, and promote a higher quality of life (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2014). Healthy People 2020 has monitored its progress for over three decades between communities over the nation to understand where prevention measures are needed most. Fielding, Teutsch, & Koh (2012) projected that Healthy People 2020 will project a greater emphasis on social needs when it comes to health care disparities and will focus on education and income across the reform. One strength I noticed, when navigating through U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

According to “Healthy People 2020”, n.d. exclusively breast feeding infants for at least 3- 6 months significantly impacts their health outcomes and has long terms health benefits. Ultimately, the goal is to encourage nursing mothers to breastfeed for 1 year (“Maternal Infant and Child,” n.d.). Despite this knowledge women continue to face challenges in regard to public or employer accommodation to assist nursing mothers.

1. It is important for health education professionals to understand the history of health promotion so history doesn’t repeat itself. We can learn from others past mistakes and triumphs. One important discovery was made by the Egyptians. They were known for their cleanliness at the time and the healthiest. They opened other people’s eyes to hygiene and in 1500 B.C. the Hebrews put together the world’s first written hygienic code. This explained the importance of keeping our bodies clean and how to protect it against contagious diseases. The Greeks continued with this and were one of the first people to put a strong emphasis on disease prevention as well as the treatment of diseases. They emphasized a balance between physical, mental and spiritual

Yes, I agree with you that people are living much longer thanks to advances in technology and medicine. Thus, the older adults (I prefer to use the term older than elderly or geriatric), is one group of the population that Healthy People 2020 has assigned a separate topic of concern. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggested that any health promotion for the older adult has to take into consideration the psychosocial determinants of health. Given that older adults may not have the physical strength or stamina of the younger population, participation in physical activities should be encouraged (Healthy People 2020). If you don’t mind I would like to suggest that you include some kind of activity in your program

Community wellness is very important. The wellness of others greatly affects the population as a whole. The community must work as a whole to promote a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, community nurses are the main operation for communities. The purpose of this assignment is to discuss an issue in my community, analyze it with Milo’s framework, compare it to the national goals, and provide short and long term goals.

7. Injury and Violence Prevention- Injuries and violence are common occurrence; accidental injuries and those triggered by acts of violence are included in the top 15 fatalities for Americans of all ages. The Injury and Violence Prevention objectives for 2020 signify a wide range of concerns, which, if adequately targeted, will increase the health of this nation. Various factors can affect the risk of unintended injuries and violence, risky behaviors, bad choices made; such as drinking and drugs can increase these preventable injuries and deaths (Healthy People, n.d.).

One cause is genetics some people are prone to more illnesses and diseases than others. Lifestyle choices of whether to eat health, exercise, drink water, and see a doctor regularly can make some people healthier than others. A person’s income and access to health care can cause them to be health or unhealthy. Formal education has a positive effect on the health of an individual. A person with a strong support system can have better health due to the support and assistances they can provide. The physical environment can negatively affect a patient’s health if they are in an area without easy access to health care, or work with carcinogens.

We all know someone who has suffered from heart disease. Whether it was from a heart attack, congestive heart failure, or stroke, some type of cardiovascular disease has taken the life of someone we loved way too soon. This epidemic of heart disease must be stopped through the collaboration of physicians, nurses, law makers, and concerned citizens. The purpose of this paper is to examine cardiovascular disease, the risks associated with heart disease and obesity per Milo’s framework, comparison of obesity and Healthy People 2020 national goals, and finally the long-term and short-term goals and interventions selected for this paper.

In consideration that I am an adopted child, I am unware of the familial health factors that could help identify my risk for maladies based on the family health portrait. Under this circumstance, my environmental, nutritional, as well as physical activity are major influences to my current lifestyle. According to Healthy People 2020, “fewer than one in three adults consume the recommended amount of vegetables each day.” This statistic can be associated to Americans’ body weight in consideration that one in three adults, and one in six children are considered obese (HealthyPeople, 2016). With this in mind, I pride myself on my plant-based diet along with moderate exercise since I hope to avoid any comorbidities.