Health Disparities Across the Lifespan, Essay Example

Introduction

Public policy and legislation are critical components of society and require a greater understanding of the challenges and needs of individuals who work in healthcare and with patients. Health concerns are significant and pose many risks to the population; therefore, it is necessary to evaluate some of these issues and to recognize how public policy might play a critical role in advancing the issues that are most critical to alleviate health concerns and improve the quality of life for many people. These factors represent an opportunity to explore the different dimensions of healthcare policy and legislation that support long-term growth and success in healthcare practice.

Analysis

Health disparities exist throughout society because there are significant weaknesses that limit access to routine healthcare services for many people. Therefore, it is likely that these individuals face significant challenges that are difficult to overcome and that require further consideration and evaluation from policy and clinical experts. Health disparities pose a threat to society in many ways and limit an individual’s ability to maintain positive health because of limiting factors that impact wellbeing (Adler & Stewart, 2010). In this context, individuals require greater attention and focus through improvements in healthcare practice that support the prevention of disease and health promotion. However, one important issue to consider is that of health inequities, as different population groups do not receive the same treatment and focus as other groups, thereby creating significant disparities that are difficult to overcome (Braveman et.al, 2011). These conditions require policies and legislation to consider why disparities exist and the steps that are required to address these disparities in a timely manner to prevent further complications (Braveman et.al, 2011).

Within the State of Maryland, health disparities are a very real condition and pose a serious threat to many population groups. Therefore, strategies and policies must be in place that will have a positive impact on patient outcomes and on developing new strategies for improvement that favor equality in healthcare for all persons. Healthcare practice is complex and intricate on many levels; therefore, existing barriers must be alleviated or minimized through community-based interventions that serve as possible indicators of policy change and progress (Hicks et.al, 2010). From a community-based perspective, it is necessary to identify programs that will directly address health disparities and also demonstrate the importance of specific focus areas so that individual programs may target health disparities in an effective manner (Hicks et.al, 2010). In addition, community-based initiatives are likely to improve when workers are provided with the tools and resources that are required to ensure that all persons within a given community have regular access to healthcare services. This will enable a community to make an attempt to alleviate its health concerns through expanded programs that target diseases or other specific health issues (Balcazar et.al, 2011).

Conclusion

Health disparities are a significant factor for the healthcare system in the United States; therefore, it is important to identify the resources that communities may offer in order to alleviate these disparities and to make a difference in the lives of local residents. In particular, policy making agendas must be specialized towards the alleviation of health disparities within communities. These policies are critical in supporting the needs of local residents in the State of Maryland and beyond. Through community-based interventions, it is likely that communities will achieve greater opportunities for growth that will improve patient outcomes and equality of care across population groups.

References

Adler, N. E., & Stewart, J. (2010). Health disparities across the lifespan: meaning, methods, and mechanisms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1186(1), 5-23.

Balcazar, H., Rosenthal, E. L., Brownstein, J. N., Rush, C. H., Matos, S., & Hernandez, L. (2011). Community health workers can be a public health force for change in the United States: three actions for a new paradigm. American journal of public health, 101(12), 2199-2203.

Braveman, P. A., Kumanyika, S., Fielding, J., LaVeist, T., Borrell, L. N., Manderscheid, R., & Troutman, A. (2011). Health disparities and health equity: the issue is justice. Journal Information, 101(S1).

Hicks, L. S., O’Malley, A. J., Lieu, T. A., Keegan, T., McNeil, B. J., Guadagnoli, E., & Landon, E. (2010). Impact of health disparities collaboratives on racial/ethnic and insurance disparities in US community health centers. Archives of internal medicine, 170(3), 279-286.