Filing health care claims electronically is almost always mandatory. A small percentage of offices/facilities are allowed to file paper claims these days. Do you think it is beneficial for a medical assistant, new to this field, to learn how to file a paper claim or should we focus solely on training/teaching how to file electronic claims? Please indicate why or why not in your response
10-12 sentences
How will be able to infer causality over time? Could other things in their environment possibly have a impact on them?
Describe what specific resources or federal agencies that you will utilize to remain informed and current in public health trends and practices.
What does your textbook have to say on the topic?
References
4 postsRe: Topic 2 DQ 1
There are many factors that influence the heath of an individual or the population. In a broad term one of this factor is termed Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). SDOH are the complex circumstances where people are born, live, grow, play learn, worship, work and age (heathy people. Gov, 2018a; World Health Organization, n.d.). In order words, these are broad range of personal, social, economic and environmental factors. The determinants are about individual place in society, this includes income level, educational level and type of employment. Over the years group of people have experienced racism, discrimination and historical events such as the black people. These experiences have detrimental effects on the health care needs of these group of people. SDOH is the main factor responsible for today’s major health problems in society including depression, hearth disease, diabetes and obesity (What are the Social Determinants of Health? 2018).
There are complex interactions between the SDOH. For example, low income will have direct impact on the individual or community accessibility to proper health care, lack of good food and thus increasing the burden on the individual or family. This burden is often translated into poor coping mechanism in the form of drug use and sometimes comfort eating of unhealthy food. Poor health can reduce the individual opportunities to have meaningful employment which in turn impact on the individual’s income. These factors interplay with each other and have a positive or negative effect on the overall health of the individual or population.
A communicable disease chain is the process by which pathogen of infectious agent is transmitted to another organism (Green, 2018). This model of communicable disease chain is presented by six links, infectious agent, susceptible host, reservoir, portal of entry, mode of transmission and portal of exist (Break the Chain of Infection, n.d.). All these elements most be presence for the spread of communicable disease in a population. To stop the spread of disease is by breaking the chain at any link.
Nurses are in better position in breaking the chain of infection because they are involved at all levels of prevention (Institute for Work and Health, 2015) The nurse can use preventive measures or health education that are aimed at breaking the chain and reducing the risks of infections in other people. These measures include adhering to proper hygiene measures (WHO, 2018). For example, in the case of contact precautions, nurses should always use the appropriate personal protective equipment disposed of immediately after attending the patient to protect the nurse and other patients from getting infection.
3 postsRe: Topic 2 DQ 2
“Global health plays an increasingly crucial role in both global security and the security of the U.S. population (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2019)”. The health in our communities or in the United States population could possibly be affected by events around the world. For example, there is more access to easily visit many countries throughout the globe. Many individuals enjoy travelling and explore countries which they may not be aware a health threat or epidemic is developing. It is often heard or written in the news of infectious diseases are emerging and causing a threat. “The Institute of Medicine’s 2003 report Microbial Threats to Health2 stresses that the United States should enhance the global capacity for responding to infectious disease threats and should take a leadership role in promoting a comprehensive, global, real-time infectious disease surveillance system (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2019)”.
Website, https://www.intrahealth.org/vital/10-global-health-issues-watch-2019, lists ten global health issues to watch in 2019. Unbelievably one that hits close to most of our communities is food related. Across the globe, there is high demand for high calorie and low to no nutritional value diets that are being combine with a sedentary lifestyle which increases the probability of heart disease, diabetes and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).“NCDs are now responsible for around 41 million deaths per year, according to the World Health Organization—and more than 85% of those occur in low- and middle-income countries (IntraHealth International, INC., 2019)”. This affects everyone, even impacts larger health care systems. “NCDs are estimated to cause a cumulative loss of output of $47 trillion between 2011 and 2030 (Kaoser Family Foundation, 2019)”.
The health care stakeholders have been aware of the emerging global health issue, it is alarming because many of the non-communicable diseases may be prevented all with proper nutrition and adding more activity in the individual’s routine. The health care delivery systems have a system where the goals are to promote health, prevent the disease, and protect the population’s health. My example was regarding nutrition, stake holders may encourage fast food restaurants to serve healthier alternatives as equally affordable as the high fat cheap take outs. In regard to activity, insurances may offer discounts for gym memberships or online virtual classes that may be done in the comfort of their home. These suggestions will not take a toll on their budget compare to a person acquiring an NCD and accruing clinical or hospital bills. The investment in providing proper education is necessary and the process ought to be aim globally.
2 postsCAT: Brainstorm & discussion. ( points considered for participation)
Class, what is the most vulnerable population that you work with, specific to your facility and specialty? Please elaborate and give me an example of a situation in which you served this population, the outcome, and the continuing education provided.
1 postsRe: Topic 2 DQ 2
Climate change is something we have heard about for years. One thing I did not realize is how much it affects our global health. The World Health Organization states that the earth temperature has increased 0.85 degrees censuses, which is 33.5 degrees Fahrenheit, over the last 130 years. “Over the last 50 years, human activities – particularly the burning of fossil fuels – have released sufficient quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to trap additional heat in the lower atmosphere and affect the global climate” (World Health Organization, 2018). With the rising temperatures our ice glaciers continue to melt causing rising in sea levels which in result are causing increasing in precipitation and extreme weather conditions. “Climate change affects social and environmental determinants of health – clean air, safe drinking water, sufficient food and secure shelter” (World Health Organization, 2018).
Higher temperatures are causing increased levels of ozone and other pollutants in the air and are resulting in higher incidence in respiratory and cardiovascular disease. It is also causing increased natural disasters which are leading to increased deaths due to homes, medical facilities, and other essential facilities being destroyed. Another affect of climate change is variable rainfall which can cause drought and higher incidence of floods which contaminate drinking water. “Climatic conditions strongly affect water-borne diseases and diseases transmitted through insects, snails or other cold blooded animals” (World Health Organization, 2018). According to the World Health Organization, Malaria is strongly related to climate causing 400,000 deaths per year.
The World Health Organization continues to work on ways to prepare its communities to protect against climate change. They also state, “Many policies and individual choices have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and produce major health co-benefits. For example, cleaner energy systems, and promoting the safe use of public transportation and active movement – such as cycling or walking as alternatives to using private vehicles – could reduce carbon emissions, and cut the burden of household air pollution, which causes some 4.3 million deaths per year, and ambient air pollution, which causes about 3 million deaths every year” (World Health Organization, 2018). What we can do to help is to talk to our patients about how climate change effects their health and how they can help and try to protect themselves, use more economical friendly equipment and limit medical waste to decrease pollution and teach patients and families how to prepare and protect themselves from natural disasters
4 postsRe: Topic 3 DQ 1
A vulnerable population is a group of people who need special considerations in regard to their health and overall welfare (Falkner, 2018).Vulnerable populations are individuals who are not able to advocate for themselves due to physical, cognitive or mental disability, emotionally unstable people, children and incarcerated individuals.These populations usually have several social determinants of health(SDOH) that contribute to their vulnerability.These SDOH can include poverty, socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and no insurance or the underinsured.
In the United States there are many vulnerable populations.One group that gets a significant amount of media coverage is the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/questioning (LGBTQ) population.The inequality and hardship this group often encounters within the medical community and the higher instance of medical conditions such as Hepatitis B, HIV and AIDS is what makes this population considered vulnerable (Falkner, 2018).In the US, it is estimated that 10 million adults identify as LGBTQ (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2018).Many individuals within the population have reported prejudice from medical providers, leading to reluctance to seek care or delay in treatment due to the bias experienced.The stigma in society, discrimination and failure to recognize the unique civil and human rights deters individual self-determination and access to care which causes negative health outcomes and overall increase in morbidity and mortality (ANA, 2018).All nurses, not just CHN need to understand their own preconceptions and bias when caring for this vulnerable population.Ethically, nurses have a responsibility to provide safe, competent care to all individuals regardless of age, sex, sexual preference, race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.
Social determinants of health refer to social and economic factors that specific individuals have to deal with because of birth, status, gender, culture, race, income status, employment, physical surroundings and access to health services (Government of Canada – modified 2019).These determinants influence the behavioural and risk factors of individuals within specific geographical neighbourhoods.
Low income and culture are two of the many risk factors for diseases. Because of the lack of proper education, there is lack of knowledge that is essential to promote and prevent diseases and restore health. Culture plays a role because of traditions, customs and beliefs, the family may not think, act or feel the same way about their overall health.
The communicable disease chain model is a means of addressing the different transmissions that happens when the agent leaves it host (reservoir – human or animal or the environment such as mosquitos in stagnant water, poor air quality) through a portal exit and enters via transmission through a portal entry to infect a susceptible host. “Th emode of transmission is th emeans of the agent’s travel from the portal of exit to the host” (Green, 2018). This sequence is usually referred to as a chain of infection. If there is a break in the chain of infection, then it is aborted. For a community that is already at risk because of social determinants of health it is important that diseases are addressed promptly to avoid the widespread infection. For example, in a nursing home where there are less workers and many patients, a staphylococcus bacterium, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can be passed easily via a source to a susceptible host. In order to avoid this transmission, proper handwashing is necessary before and after patient care to abort or prevent this chain of infection.
References
4 postsRe: Topic 3 DQ 1
A vulnerable population is a group of people who need special considerations in regard to their health and overall welfare (Falkner, 2018).Vulnerable populations are individuals who are not able to advocate for themselves due to physical, cognitive or mental disability, emotionally unstable people, children and incarcerated individuals.These populations usually have several social determinants of health(SDOH) that contribute to their vulnerability.These SDOH can include poverty, socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and no insurance or the underinsured.
In the United States there are many vulnerable populations.One group that gets a significant amount of media coverage is the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender/questioning (LGBTQ) population.The inequality and hardship this group often encounters within the medical community and the higher instance of medical conditions such as Hepatitis B, HIV and AIDS is what makes this population considered vulnerable (Falkner, 2018).In the US, it is estimated that 10 million adults identify as LGBTQ (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2018).Many individuals within the population have reported prejudice from medical providers, leading to reluctance to seek care or delay in treatment due to the bias experienced.The stigma in society, discrimination and failure to recognize the unique civil and human rights deters individual self-determination and access to care which causes negative health outcomes and overall increase in morbidity and mortality (ANA, 2018).All nurses, not just CHN need to understand their own preconceptions and bias when caring for this vulnerable population.Ethically, nurses have a responsibility to provide safe, competent care to all individuals regardless of age, sex, sexual preference, race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.
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