Social Determinants Correction FOR KIM

Social Determinants of Health

A. 1. Income and health (Include data from state and local resources to support SDOH with in-text citation)

The social determinant of health affecting the community is income. Income impacts the health of the community in myriad ways. First, people earning higher incomes are healthier than people with low incomes (Lenhart, 2017). The rates of distribution of income and poverty have caused health inequalities in the community. People with higher incomes are healthier because they can afford to pay for health services, while the poor can hardly afford healthcare services. Data healthcare data from the community shows that the number of households from impoverished families visiting hospitals is twice less than patients from wealthy families.

2. Characteristics of the target population (include a thirds characteristics and address diversity within the community)

The target population of the policy change is the people with low-income rates. Their characteristics are:

· Most of the poor people live in rural and adversely remote areas of the community

· They have a large family size that exceeds the average family size

· They earn little incomes that can only afford their large family sizes 3 (Lenhart, 2017).

3. Policymakers who will receive the policy brief: (include name, title and affiliation of policy maker)

Among the essential policymakers who will receive the policy brief stipulating the need for a policy change to reduce the health disparities are:

I. All healthcare managers within the community

II. Health for All community-based organization

III. Health Care Service Insurance Corporation (HCSIC)

4. The Need for Policy Makers (include ethical implications based on beneficence, autonomy or non-maleficence) (Include a demographic table)

The attention of policymakers is that they will help gather information on how community health has been affected by the income of the people. Also, the policymakers will help conduct research, consultation, and extract from the information that will be presented a policy or policies that can be implemented to reduce the effect of income on community health.

There has been a lack of a policy that can help ease access to healthcare for residents with low incomes in the area. As a result, the health disparities between the poor and the rich have increased over the past (Lenhart, 2017). The ethical implications of the trend are ; healthcare is a reserve of the rich in the community, and poverty is a threat to universal healthcare goals.

B. Policy Proposal and Implementation Plan (Wealth distribution is aptly identified as a policy alternative. However, a second policy alternative was not insufficient. Also, A discussion that incorporates best practices and addresses relevancy for both policies was not included. Please identify a second policy alternative and incorporate best practices and address the relevancy of both policies.)

1. Policy Alternatives

I. Progressive wealth distribution mechanisms- Progressive wealth distribution gives every community member access to wealth. Consequently, poverty is reduced. A reduction in poverty levels leads to a decrease in health disparities between the poor and the rich.

II. More significant investment in services for low-income families in the community- Investment increases access to resources. When many members of the community can access resources, poverty levels will decline. The decline will lead to a decrease in health inequalities.

2. Progressive wealth creation is the best proposal because it gives community members equal access to economic opportunities. (Wealth creation is clearly identified as the preferred policy. However, the discussion was not supported with data and background information on the policy. Please include a discussion with data and background information on the policy)

3. Impacts of progressive wealth distribution

Progressive wealth distribution will lead to an increase in the living standards of many members of the community. An increase in living standards will address the gap of health disparities resulting from low incomes because every member will be afforded equal healthcare access (Marmot, 2002). The progressive wealth distribution policy proposal will be worked on by the government. A lot of costs will be incurred because the government in general and the healthcare sector, in particular, will be required to implement various initiatives that will lead to an increase in wealth creation in the community. The ethical implication is that increase in wealth creation in the community will decrease health disparities because more community members will be able to afford healthcare services. Nevertheless, there will still be health disparities because not every community member will be able to access the wealth.

4. Potential barriers to implementing Progressive Wealth Distribution (Some costs for the policy will be incurred by the government and healthcare sector. However, a discussion related to the relevant financial costs and benefits of the policy with in-text citations was not included. Please include a discussion of the financial costs and benefits of the policy with supporting sources (in-text citations)

The possible barriers to implementing the policy could be financial costs. The government may not have enough funds to implement progressive wealth creation. Also, opposition from key healthcare stakeholders and government could be a challenge towards implementing the policy (Marmot, 2002). Lastly, lack of human resources could also be disastrous to the efficient implementation of the policy.

5. Communicating the Policy

Several methods will be used to communicate the policy. The primary communication method to be used will be face-to-face communication with stakeholders to discuss the need for change. Letters will also be used to communicate to stakeholders in distant areas.

6. Impacts of Inaction

Failure to deliver on the policy proposal will further widen the health disparities and make it more difficult for low-income families to afford healthcare (Lenhart, 2017). Also, lack of implementation will prompt continued push to the government and other stakeholders to find new alternatives that could address the increasing health disparities resulting from incomes.

C. Executive Summary (Income is identified as SDOH. However, the summary is insufficient as it does not address the context and scope of the SDOH in the community. Please provide additional details related to the identified SDOH). (Progressive wealth distribution will increase access to health. However, the summary is insufficient as it does not provide details regarding the proposed policy. Please include additional details regarding the proposed policy). (The policymakers will clearly conduct research to achieve change. However, the discussion is insufficient as it does not address the persuasive course of action for the policy)

Social determinants have greatly influenced healthcare delivery in the communities. Among the notable SDOH has been the income. The policy covers income as the SDOH contributing to the increased health disparities between communities (Marmot, 2002). Progressive wealth distribution will increase access to health by community members by reducing policy prevalence rates. To achieve the change, the policymakers will be required to ensure that they conduct enough research and consultations to gauge the plan's merit. Also, enough funds will be needed to effect the new policy.

D. Reflection (Identifying the weaknesses was impactful. However, a discussion related to how the candidate acted as a change agent in the creation of the policy was not evident. Please include a discussion related to how the candidate acted as a change agent and what the candidate learned.

.Identifying the weaknesses was impactful. However, a discussion related to the knowledge and skills the candidate needs to develop to influence policy was not provided. Please include a discussion of the knowledge and skills needed to develop policy by the candidate)

Identifying the weaknesses in healthcare and providing elaborate solutions was very impactful in influencing the policy change. Proving how access to wealth could increase access to healthcare was also crucial towards achieving the needed change. In the future, good communication, research, and persuasive skills will be vital in leading policy changes.

References

Lenhart, O. (2017). The Effects of Income on Health: New Evidence from the Earned Income Tax Credit. SSRN Electronic Journal. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2969140

Marmot, M. (2002). The Influence Of Income On Health: Views Of An Epidemiologist. Health Affairs, 21(2), 31–46. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.21.2.31