Topic 1 DQ 2
Explain how health care reform has helped shift the focus from a disease-oriented health care system to
one of wellness and prevention. Discuss ways in which health care will continue this trend and explain
the role of nursing in supporting and facilitating this shift. In replies to peers, provide an example of
wellness and prevention initiatives your organization or specialty area has in place.
United States has the most expensive health care system in the world. Even though we invest a lot of
money in health care, we are not able to reap the benefits of it as is indicated by the low life expectancy,
high mortality rates during pregnancy and childhood as compared to other nations who invest only a
fraction of our cost (National Prevention Council, 2011, p. 6). People are dying of issues that are easily
preventable like smoking, not wearing seat belts, etc. There is a huge burden due to the chronic
conditions that a patients has. These chronic condition are preventable, and manageable thereby
reducing the health care cost. Affordable Care Act has changed the outlook of our healthcare system. It
has shifted the focus to a wellness and prevention system that helps reduce the health care cost and
helps people live a longer and healthier life.
Health is not just a state of body it also means a healthy environment, mind, healthy neighborhood,
healthy community, healthy social life, healthy habits, healthy education, good employment, healthy
homes, etc. There are many factors that contribute to health and improving those factors reduces
diseases, cost and helps us lead a healthy and productive life. “While knowledge is critical, communities
must reinforce and support health, for example, by making healthy choices easy and affordable. We will
succeed in creating healthy community environments when the air and water are clean and safe; when
housing is safe and affordable; when transportation and community infrastructure provide people with
the opportunity to be active and safe; when schools serve children healthy food and provide quality
physical education; and when businesses provide healthy and safe working conditions and access to
comprehensive wellness programs. When all sectors (e.g., housing, transportation, labor, education,
defense) promote prevention-oriented environments and policies, they all contribute to health”
(National Prevention Council, 2011, p. 6).
Nurses have a very big role to play in this change. Nurses are the most trusted person by the people and
their contribution to making the community healthy is undeniable. Nurse can educate the people about
risk factors that can lead to chronic health issues. They can provide information on how to manage a
condition. Referrals to different resources, support group, therapist are the focus of their care. They play
an important role in the community when they advocate for safer environment, stress on immunizations
and dispel myths about it, do wellness checks, help with legislation that focus on building of parks,
schools, day cares, safe drinking water, sidewalks, help get funds for research, etc. Educating the
community about healthy eating, exercising, avoiding drugs and substance abuse, looking out for
emotional and mental health issues in all groups, encouraging annual wellness checks, helping people
pull out of addictions, creating empathy for victims, helping people now their reproductive rights,
helping them access the health care services, finding ways to safely transport people who need medical
help, helping community fund free clinics for the needy are all steps towards the wellness and
preventive system.
Reference
This study source was downloaded by 100000847426977 from CourseHero.com on 06-04-2022 03:18:10 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/54363489/Topic-1-DQ-2docx/
Explain how health care reform has helped shift the focus from a disease-oriented health care system to
one of wellness and prevention. Discuss ways in which health care will continue this trend and explain
the role of nursing in supporting and facilitating this shift. In replies to peers, provide an example of
wellness and prevention initiatives your organization or specialty area has in place.
United States has the most expensive health care system in the world. Even though we invest a lot of
money in health care, we are not able to reap the benefits of it as is indicated by the low life expectancy,
high mortality rates during pregnancy and childhood as compared to other nations who invest only a
fraction of our cost (National Prevention Council, 2011, p. 6). People are dying of issues that are easily
preventable like smoking, not wearing seat belts, etc. There is a huge burden due to the chronic
conditions that a patients has. These chronic condition are preventable, and manageable thereby
reducing the health care cost. Affordable Care Act has changed the outlook of our healthcare system. It
has shifted the focus to a wellness and prevention system that helps reduce the health care cost and
helps people live a longer and healthier life.
Health is not just a state of body it also means a healthy environment, mind, healthy neighborhood,
healthy community, healthy social life, healthy habits, healthy education, good employment, healthy
homes, etc. There are many factors that contribute to health and improving those factors reduces
diseases, cost and helps us lead a healthy and productive life. “While knowledge is critical, communities
must reinforce and support health, for example, by making healthy choices easy and affordable. We will
succeed in creating healthy community environments when the air and water are clean and safe; when
housing is safe and affordable; when transportation and community infrastructure provide people with
the opportunity to be active and safe; when schools serve children healthy food and provide quality
physical education; and when businesses provide healthy and safe working conditions and access to
comprehensive wellness programs. When all sectors (e.g., housing, transportation, labor, education,
defense) promote prevention-oriented environments and policies, they all contribute to health”
(National Prevention Council, 2011, p. 6).
Nurses have a very big role to play in this change. Nurses are the most trusted person by the people and
their contribution to making the community healthy is undeniable. Nurse can educate the people about
risk factors that can lead to chronic health issues. They can provide information on how to manage a
condition. Referrals to different resources, support group, therapist are the focus of their care. They play
an important role in the community when they advocate for safer environment, stress on immunizations
and dispel myths about it, do wellness checks, help with legislation that focus on building of parks,
schools, day cares, safe drinking water, sidewalks, help get funds for research, etc. Educating the
community about healthy eating, exercising, avoiding drugs and substance abuse, looking out for
emotional and mental health issues in all groups, encouraging annual wellness checks, helping people
pull out of addictions, creating empathy for victims, helping people now their reproductive rights,
helping them access the health care services, finding ways to safely transport people who need medical
help, helping community fund free clinics for the needy are all steps towards the wellness and
preventive system.
Reference
This study source was downloaded by 100000847426977 from CourseHero.com on 06-04-2022 03:18:10 GMT -05:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/54363489/Topic-1-DQ-2docx/
