Transforming Community Health- A Proposal for Enhancing Our Health Care System

Transforming Community Health- A Proposal for Enhancing Our Health Care System

Change Necessity and Proposal

Preventative care for people with any mental health diagnosis is one of the most effective tools for preventing crises and deteriorating a patient’s condition (Czeisler et al., 2021). Mental health diagnoses are increasing daily worldwide, but the number of mental health providers and facilities available is steadily decreasing or remaining stagnant. Improving the ability to provide counseling and medication appointments without in-person appointments is critical for crisis treatment and prevention. Many people will experience breakdowns and mental health crises if additional services are unavailable, leading to increased hospital admissions or suicide, drug use, or other risky behavior (Czeisler et al., 2021). Jamestown, New York, has minimal resources when treating mental health disorders. However, adding services like Telehealth and video counseling to help provide timely and appropriate care is critical for patient satisfaction and success (Myers, 2019). This assessment evaluates the changes made and assists in implementing changes that will benefit patients and their families.

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Advantages and Consequences

Jamestown is a small city in western New York with slightly more than 30,000 people (Surdyk, 2021). The area has two community hospitals, numerous churches of various denominations, nearby shopping centers, and close community living. Because of the hospitals’ size and proximity to other metro areas, the community has a very diverse population, which brings many medically complex problems. Still, special care is lacking locally, so patients who arrive at the hospital may require a transfer for expert consultation (Surdyk, 2021). Many neighborhoods in the city have newer homes, but others are run-down and dilapidated, with condemned homes housing people experiencing homelessness (Surdyk, 2021).

Mental health care in Jamestown is limited because of the scarcity of resources at local facilities. They are implementing a telehealth and video conferencing program to connect patients with a counselor, nurse, and psychiatrist for immediate crisis assistance and long-term counseling and treatment. This program assists patients in avoiding a mental health crisis and ongoing treatment. This would be accomplished by utilizing telehealth services, which helps prevent backlogs in the E.R. and doctor’s offices by allowing appointments to be completed at home (Surdyk, 2021). The virtual conferences help to keep patients connected to their providers, and the scheduled appointment times help to keep them predictable, which is especially important for patients with mental health issues.

Potential Roadblocks

New projects are always fraught with setbacks or potential issues, and new technology is no exception (McClellan et al., 2020). One potential issue with the telehealth program is that some people do not use technology. As a result, video conferencing may be ineffective. Because video conferencing is not the only option for these virtual meetings, anyone can use this service via phone or computer (Sugarman et al., 2021). Privacy protection is another issue that arises as a result of the implementation of new technology programs. Security programs must be integrated to protect a person’s identity and privacy; this is especially important when dealing with personal medical information. This is easily remedied when websites are created and security systems are regularly maintained and updated (Sugarman et al., 2021).

Telehealth is critical for people who live in areas with few specialists or where transportation is difficult. Telehealth oTelehealthits the low-income and elderly by providing access without needing transportation to appointments (Sugarman et al., 2021). The ability to schedule appointments at various times will also assist the working class in maintaining their mental health (McClellan et al., 2020).

Assisting patients and their family members with the initial setup of the application is critical to the success of the telehealth program (Vahip, 2021). Technology will always have its issues; successful setup and testing before the initial appointment will be critical to preventing those issues from spilling over to the patient’s side. If the technology fails, a phone appointment can be scheduled to prevent further problems. This will also give the patient more time to resolve their technology problems, and they will not be required to miss appointments (Vahip, 2021).

Stakeholder Engagement

Case managers and social workers will help ensure that patients keep their appointments, and those staff will conduct quality checks with patients to ensure that they are satisfied with their care. Patient and family satisfaction is critical for service reimbursement and retention (Whedon et al., 2017). Patients who believe they are being listened to, cared for, and cared about will continue to schedule appointments and receive services at home or in an office. A building is not required for a medical practice when using the telehealth service; thus, cost savings will continue to benefit stakeholders.

Insurance companies cover preventative care, and mental health care, like primary care visits, will be covered by a patient’s insurance company, minus a deductible (Whedon et al., 2017). Patients who do not have insurance will be enrolled in a program that will assist them in obtaining insurance through the New York State Medicaid/Medicare program, which will benefit the patient in various ways (Whedon et al., 2017). This will assist the patient with long-term care costs while also preparing the patient for health insurance to obtain affordable primary care and prescriptions.

Preventative appointments with a counselor or psychiatrist on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis help keep communication lines open (McClellan et al., 2020). Setting these appointments regularly will allow patients to continue planning their lives, budget for minor copays, and communicate with family members if they should accompany them to appointments. The use of scheduling around work schedules assists those who work during the day to ensure that patients can make their appointments and not miss work due to doctor visits; patients will be able to make appointments while on a lunch break, before or after work, and on weekends with telehealth appointments (Sugarman et al., 2021). Stakeholders can easily schedule telehealth appointments to continue treating patients without using a facility (Davlasheridze et al., 2018).

Conclusion

One in every five people in the United States suffers from mental health issues. As a result, the available care is critical to successfully treating those people. Telehealth and video conferencing will aid in treating all patients, particularly those who cannot come into the office for appointments. Telehealth and video conferencing will solve many problems for those who have difficulty attending in-office appointments and provide comfort for those who prefer to have appointments in their environment. Telehealth appointments will be covered by health insurance, which will help connect patients with providers who would not have sought assistance otherwise.

Similar Post: Using Technology to Promote Patient Safety and Quality Outcomes

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2021) About Mental Health (cdc.gov) www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/learn/index.htm

Czeisler MÉ, Lane RI, Wiley JF, Czeisler CA, Howard ME, Rajaratnam SMW. A follow-up survey of U.S. adult reports of mental health, substance use, and suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 Pandemic, September 2020. JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(2) http://doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.37665

Davlasheridze, Meri., Goetz, Stephan J., Han, Yicheol. (2018) The effect of mental health on U.S. Count, Economic Growth. The Official Journal of the Southern Regional Science -Association. 155-171.

McClellan, M. J., Florell, D., Palmer, J., & Kidder, C. (2020). Clinician telehealth attitudes in a rural community mental health center setting. Journal of Rural Mental Health, 44(1), 62– 73. https://doi.org/10.1037/rmh0000127

Myers, C. (2019). Using TelehealthTelehealthate rural mental health and healthcare disparities. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 40:3, 233–239, DOI: 10.1080/01612840.2018.1499157

Sugarman, Dawn., Horvitz, L., Greenfield, L., Busch. Alisa. (2021) Clinicians’ perceptions of rapid scale-up of telehealth services in outpatient mental health treatment. Telemedicine and e-Health. http://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2020.0481

Surdyk, Crystal D., (2021). www.jamestownny.gov/departments/department-of-development

Vahip, S. (2021). The EPA-council of national associations implementing digital mental health across Europe: Opportunities and Challenges. European Psychiatry, 64(S1), S14-S14. http://doi:10.1192/j.eurpsy.2021.59

Whedon, James., Tosteson, Tor, D., Kizhakkeveettil, Anupama., Nagare Kimura, Anupama. (2017). Insurance reimbursement for complementary services. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 2017.264-267.http://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2016.0369

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• Draft a 3-5 page change proposal to executive leaders, soliciting their support for a change to the health care system in the community you selected in the previous assessment.
  

  Change Necessity and Proposal

  Introduction
  To improve healthcare outcomes within a community, leaders must understand the needs of specific populations. In addition, leaders must be able to gather and present persuasive evidence to decision-makers to obtain the necessary funding and establish these needs as priorities for budget and resource planning. Thus, proposed changes should support improved outcomes and align with the current or needed health care policy.
  This assessment provides an opportunity to propose a community health care change based on the community health assessment you completed in Assessment 2.
  Preparation
  The executives at Vila Health well received your community health assessment. Consequently, they have asked you to recommend a change in the community that will improve health outcomes. They have also asked you to submit your recommendation in a formal change proposal. You are confident that you can present a strong case for change, including a financial plan, that will ensure the success of this initiative.
  In this assessment, you will draft a change proposal for executive leaders to solicit support for changing the community healthcare system. To prepare for the assessment, you are encouraged to begin thinking about your justification for establishing the recommended change as a priority, a strategy for leading change, and how the change will be funded. In addition, you may wish to:

  • Review the assessment requirements and scoring guide to ensure that you understand the work you will be asked to complete.
  • Review Guiding Questions: Planning for Community and Organizational Change [DOCX], which includes questions to consider and additional guidance on how to complete the assessment successfully.
  • Note: As you revise your writing, check out the resources on the Writing Center’s Writing Support page.
    The following resource is required to complete the assessment.
  • Vila Health: Planning for Change.
  • Vila Health is a virtual environment that simulates a real-world healthcare system. In the various Vila Health scenarios, you will apply professional strategies and practice skills and build competencies that you can apply to your coursework and career. The information you gather in this scenario will help you to complete the assessment.
    TEMPLATES
    Use this template for your change proposal.
  • Change Proposal Template [DOCX].
  • Requirements
    Complete this assessment in two steps:
  1. If you have not already done so, complete the Vila Health: Planning for Change simulation.
  2. Draft a change proposal to justify your recommendation for improving the community’s health and establish the change as a priority for the next budget cycle. Consider the feasibility of your proposed change in terms of overall scope, funding, and timeframe.
  3. The change proposal requirements outlined below correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide, so address each point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. The Guiding Questions: Planning for Community and Organizational Change document provides additional considerations that may help complete your assessment. In addition, be sure to note the requirements below for document format and length and for citing supporting evidence.
  • Identify the benefits of proposed healthcare system changes and their implications for a community.
  • Describe potential barriers to change in an organization or community.
  • Develop strategies for changing barriers into opportunities and resolving conflict.
  • Develop a strategy for helping organizational stakeholders understand and evaluate the proposed changes to an existing healthcare system.
  • Develop a grant proposal and associated budget for a proposed change to an existing healthcare system.
  •  Clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and appropriate form and style.
  • Support assertions, arguments, propositions, and conclusions with relevant and credible evidence.
  • Document Format and Length
  • Use the Change Proposal Template. It can help you write and format your assessment. If you would like to use a different template or document format for your change proposal, obtain prior approval from the faculty.
  • Your change proposal should be 3–5 pages long, not including the title and references pages.
  • Be sure to apply correct APA formatting to all source citations and references.
  • Supporting Evidence
    Cite 3–5 credible sources from peer-reviewed journals or professional industry publications to support your change proposal.
    Additional Requirements
    Proofread your change proposal before you submit it to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on the substance of your analysis.
    Portfolio Prompt: You may save your change proposal to your ePortfolio.
    Competencies Measured
    By completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
  • Competency 1: Identify the challenges and opportunities facing health care.
    • Identify the benefits of proposed healthcare system changes and their implications for a community.
  • Competency 2: Compare the effects of different healthcare finance models and policy frameworks on resources and patient outcomes.
    • Describe potential barriers to change in an organization or community.
    • Develop a grant proposal and associated budget for a proposed change to an existing healthcare system.
  • Competency 4: Develop proactive strategies to change the organization’s culture by incorporating evidence-based practices.
    • Develop a strategy for helping organizational stakeholders understand and evaluate the proposed changes to an existing healthcare system.
    • Develop strategies for changing barriers into opportunities and resolving conflict.
  • Competency 5: Communicate effectively with diverse audiences in an appropriate form and style consistent with applicable organizational, professional, and scholarly standards. Clearly and concisely in a logically coherent and appropriate form and style.
    • Support assertions, arguments, propositions, and conclusions with relevant and credible evidence.