Public Health Department Services Arkansas Essay
Public Health Department Services Arkansas Essay
Public Health Department Services Arkansas Essay
Public Health Department Services Arkansas
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hepatitis C, obesity, and cigarette use are all prevalent in Arkansas (CDC, 2023). STIs are also very prevalent. The most often reported STI infections in Arkansas are chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. STIs are a serious public health concern in the state. Due mostly to the use of injectable drugs, Arkansas has one of the highest rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the USA. With high rates of overweight and obesity raising the risk for various chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, obesity is also a major public health concern in Arkansas. Arkansas also has a high rate of tobacco use, which is a main cause of preventable deaths in the state and is another important public health issue.
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Population Health Problems in Arkansas
Several population health issues exist in the American state of Arkansas. These problems have substantial effects on the state’s healthcare system as a whole, as well as the health and well-being of its citizens. Limited access to healthcare services is one of Arkansas’s most significant population health issues. The state’s neglected medical needs are widespread, especially in rural areas. Residents find it challenging to get the care they need to manage chronic diseases and avoid serious health problems due to the limited access to healthcare and healthcare providers. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 14% of Arkansans lack health insurance, which is more than the 9% national average (Tolbert et al., 2022). In addition, Medicaid is frequently used by Arkansans, which might further restrict access to healthcare services. As Medicaid reimbursement rates are often lower than those of private insurance, it may be difficult for healthcare providers to offer Medicaid patients their services.
Rural health disparities are another important issue with population health in Arkansas. Compared to urban inhabitants, rural residents in Arkansas experience greater rates of chronic disease, obesity, and cigarette use (Ruralhealthinfo, 2023). Many variables, such as restricted access to healthcare services, higher poverty rates, and lower educational levels, contribute to these inequities. Arkansas also has a high rate of poverty, which is a serious public health issue. Access to healthcare services, healthy food options, and other resources can be impacted by poverty. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Arkansas has a poverty rate of 16.2% in 2019, which is greater than the 10.5% national average (Semega et al., 2020).
State-level Initiatives to Correct the Health Problems
The state of Arkansas has adopted several state-level measures to address the problems with population health. These programs seek to increase healthcare service accessibility, lessen health inequities, and deal with the underlying causes of poverty. The state’s Medicaid program, Arkansas Works, is one of the initiatives. Those with low incomes can obtain healthcare services, such as chronic illness management and preventative care, thanks to Arkansas Works (Sommers et al., 2020). Incentives for healthy habits, such as completing a health risk assessment, and enlisting in a smoking cessation program, are also included in the program. The Arkansas Rural Health Plan is another program at the state level. The plan was developed in response to the unique health challenges facing rural residents in the state.
In addition to addressing the social determinants of health that lead to poor health outcomes, the strategy includes initiatives to increase access to healthcare services (Sommers et al., 2020). Arkansas has also made policy adjustments intended to reduce health inequities and enhance health outcomes. For instance, the state approved laws mandating physical education lessons in all public schools and subsidizing school-based health clinics. To decrease smoking rates and enhance general health outcomes, the state has also increased the tobacco tax.
Role of the Health Department in Patient Care and Community Safety
In Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is essential to both patient care and community safety. The ADH is in charge of ensuring healthcare services are delivered adequately and safely and defending the general public from potential health risks. The ADH’s primary duties include overseeing healthcare practitioners and facilities. The ADH issues licenses and inspects healthcare facilities to ensure that hospitals, nursing homes, and clinics are giving patients safe and effective care (ADH, 2023). To make sure healthcare personnel is adhering to the standards of their profession, the ADH also issues licenses and controls health practitioners.
The ADH is crucial in disease prevention and control, in addition to overseeing healthcare facilities and professionals. The ADH seeks to stop the spread of diseases, including tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and sexually transmitted infections, by keeping an eye out for and looking into infectious disease outbreaks. The ADH also offers vaccines to shield the populace from diseases that can be prevented by vaccination. The ADH also plays a critical role in emergency preparedness and response. Strategies for responding to public health emergencies, such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and bioterrorism threats, must be developed and put into action by the ADH (ADH, 2023).
How Primary Care Providers and Health Departments Work Together for Patient and Community Care Delivery
In Arkansas, primary care providers (PCPs) and health departments collaborate closely to give a coordinated patient and community care. For patients to obtain comprehensive and coordinated care and for public health issues to be properly addressed, there must be cooperation between the two groups. Through disease surveillance and reporting, PCPs and health departments collaborate on many important aspects. PCPs are mandated to notify the health department of cases of specific illnesses, which aids in the detection of outbreaks and the tracking of disease spread (ADH, 2017). PCPs also receive advice from health agencies on the proper diagnosis and management of infectious illnesses. With immunization programs, PCPs and health departments can also work together. Health departments can advise PCPs on vaccine schedules and storage, as well as directly supply PCPs with vaccines to administer to their patients.
References
ADH. (2017). Arkansas department of health. CONNECT CARE. Arkansas.gov. Accessed 31st March 2023 from https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/connectcare
ADH. (2023). Arkansas department of health. ABOUT ADH. Arkansas.gov. Accessed 31st March 2023 from https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/about-the-arkansas-department-of-health
Arkansas Department of Health. (2022). Arkansas department of health EPIDEMIOLOGY. Arkansas.gov. Accessed 31st March 2023 from https://www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/communicable-diseases
CDC. (2023). Arkansas Health department HAI/AR programs. Cdc.gov. Accessed 31st March 2023 from https://www.cdc.gov/HAI/stateplans/state-hai-plans/ar.html
Ruralhealthinfo. (2023). Rural health for Arkansas overview – rural health information hub. Ruralhealthinfo.org. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/states/arkansas
Semega, J., Kollar, M., Shrider, E. A., & Creamer, J. (2020). Income and Poverty in the United States: 2019. Census.gov. Accessed 31st March 2023 from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/AR
Sommers, B. D., Chen, L., Blendon, R. J., Orav, E. J., & Epstein, A. M. (2020). Medicaid work requirements in Arkansas: Two-year impacts on coverage, employment, and affordability of care: The study examines the impact of the Arkansas Medicaid work requirement before and after a federal judge put the policy on hold. Health Affairs (Project Hope), 39(9), 1522–1530. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00538
Tolbert, J., Drake, P., & Damico, A. (2022, December 19). Key facts about the uninsured population. KFF. Accessed 31st March 2023 from https://www.kff.org/uninsured/issue-brief/key-facts-about-the-uninsured-population/
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Make an appointment to talk to a local health department (HD) representative (NP, staff RN, nurse educator, epidemiologist, or administrator). If a phone or in-person interview is
impossible, you can retrieve data and information from the CDC, and state and local public health/HD websites. The objective is to understand HD/public health community services, including what epidemiological illnesses are prevalent. You will also explore regional or state population health problems and state legislative initiatives that address these
community problems. Consider how primary care and public health services can align. Ask the Public Health Contact the following questions, which must be addressed in your paper.
• What are the population health problems in your area?
• What are state-level initiatives to correct the problems?
• What is the role of the Health Department in patient care and community safety?
How do Primary Care Providers and Health Departments work together for patient and community care delivery?
Based on your HD/public health exploration and scholarly research on the topics, post your thorough findings on the population health problems and corresponding state-level initiatives for your community. Include at least one EBP resource for each health problem and indicate how public health problems can be addressed in primary care.
