WGU D776-Task 1 | Passed on First Attempt |Latest
Update with Complete Solution
Edhita Chandra
WGU Student ID: 010461351
Healthcare Leadership and Community Engagement- D776- Task One
Introduction
Our hospital serves a community that faces high rates of socioeconomic, racial, and
health disparities. With over 60% of the residents identifying as African-American, high rates of
poverty, language barriers, and a long-standing mistrust of the medical system, the rates of
chronic diseases, homelessness, and addiction have risen to an alarming number. By
recognizing these needs as urgent, the hospital can make a comprehensive effort to collaborate
as an interprofessional team to design and implement strategies to combat barriers to health
and improve the quality of life for our patients and the community.
A. Sociopolitical Drivers Across Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Levels
Micro:
Individualized health education programs should be implemented with the goal of
improving a patient’s understanding of their symptoms/conditions and improving patient
involvement in care decisions. This strategy involves developing one-on-one culturally sensitive
education programs that allow the patient to feel more comfortable discussing personal medical
or financial issues that may prevent them from seeking care with their provider or educator, who
may then help them overcome those challenges. Patients who are confident and make informed
decisions are more likely to learn how to manage their chronic conditions and experience fewer
complications, leading to reduced visits to the emergency room and lowering costs for the
hospital.
Our hospital must acknowledge the years of discrimination and systemic racism, leading
to a large mistrust within the African-American community regarding the medical system. “Group
thinking” may prevent many African-American individuals from seeking out preventative care or
addressing their health concerns with a medical professional. Rebuilding trust with the
African-American community can be done by employing more bilingual community health
workers. Representation and diverse personnel can foster non-judgmental conversations and
relationships with patients who are hesitant to receive medical care and improve medical
adherence, resulting in a decrease in chronic illness rates and visits to the emergency room.
Mezzo:
Public Health Campaigns can reach a wider audience via multilingual ad campaigns
through social media avenues for younger generations and flyers and local radio for the elder
generation. These campaigns are important because they address issues faced by people all
over the world and how healthcare came to their aid. That may encourage others facing similar
situations to seek out similar solutions. For example, there is a huge stigma around drug abuse,
and those who suffer from addiction are hesitant to reach out for care. A national campaign
, could have stories of people who were addicts themselves, and how services such as peer
support groups (AA, SAMHSA) have helped them seek out care, follow the program, and
complete the medical detox period. The positive effects and better quality of life described by
these personal testimonies can encourage others who are facing similar illnesses, diseases, or
addictions to take the step to start the journey themselves.
Integrating Social Services and Behavioural Health programs will be beneficial to
the community by embedding these services within target-rich environments that are affected
most by chronic illnesses, addiction, and mental health issues. This integration strategy will help
reduce the negative implications revolving around the stigma of receiving mental health services
by strategically placing them in locations that are easy to access, requiring less travel, providing
further comfort in a local environment, and improving communication between patients and
providers.
Macro:
Public Health Campaigns can reach a wider audience through multilingual ad
campaigns via social media platforms for younger generations and flyers and local radio for the
elder generation. By partnering with the CDC and local clinics, we can raise awareness on the
dangers of substance abuse and normalize the conversation about addiction and seeking help.
This may encourage others facing similar situations to seek out corresponding solutions closer
to them. For example, there is a huge stigma around drug abuse, and those who suffer from
addiction are hesitant to reach out for care. A national campaign could have stories of people
who were addicts themselves, and how services such as peer support groups (AA, SAMHSA)
have helped them seek out care, follow the program, and complete the medical detox period.
The positive effects and better quality of life described by these personal testimonies can
encourage others who are facing similar illnesses, diseases, or addictions to take the step to
start the journey themselves.
Health Policy Advocacy is a critical part of ensuring that access to healthcare services,
protection, and funding is available to more people where they are needed most. Advocacy can
mean securing more funding for underserved communities and often giving a voice to
individuals who are frequently left unseen. Advocating for medicaid expansion helps prevent
illnesses and reduces treatment/ER costs by not only treating the physical symptoms, but
targeting the root issues causing barriers to healthcare.
B. Strategic Partnerships and Policy Development
B1: Strategic Partner: Housing and Social Services
Our community’s residents risk homelessness, with over one-third of households living in
poverty. Housing and food stability are direct health threats and may prevent patients from
seeking timely care, developing infections, or symptoms of chronic conditions progressing,
leading to emergency room use. By partnering with local housing and social services, we can
provide stable housing for patients who are receiving treatment for addiction. Secure housing
provides an environment where an individual can recover with minimal triggers and reduces the
risk of relapsing.
Organizational Stakeholder: Local Public Health Department
Update with Complete Solution
Edhita Chandra
WGU Student ID: 010461351
Healthcare Leadership and Community Engagement- D776- Task One
Introduction
Our hospital serves a community that faces high rates of socioeconomic, racial, and
health disparities. With over 60% of the residents identifying as African-American, high rates of
poverty, language barriers, and a long-standing mistrust of the medical system, the rates of
chronic diseases, homelessness, and addiction have risen to an alarming number. By
recognizing these needs as urgent, the hospital can make a comprehensive effort to collaborate
as an interprofessional team to design and implement strategies to combat barriers to health
and improve the quality of life for our patients and the community.
A. Sociopolitical Drivers Across Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Levels
Micro:
Individualized health education programs should be implemented with the goal of
improving a patient’s understanding of their symptoms/conditions and improving patient
involvement in care decisions. This strategy involves developing one-on-one culturally sensitive
education programs that allow the patient to feel more comfortable discussing personal medical
or financial issues that may prevent them from seeking care with their provider or educator, who
may then help them overcome those challenges. Patients who are confident and make informed
decisions are more likely to learn how to manage their chronic conditions and experience fewer
complications, leading to reduced visits to the emergency room and lowering costs for the
hospital.
Our hospital must acknowledge the years of discrimination and systemic racism, leading
to a large mistrust within the African-American community regarding the medical system. “Group
thinking” may prevent many African-American individuals from seeking out preventative care or
addressing their health concerns with a medical professional. Rebuilding trust with the
African-American community can be done by employing more bilingual community health
workers. Representation and diverse personnel can foster non-judgmental conversations and
relationships with patients who are hesitant to receive medical care and improve medical
adherence, resulting in a decrease in chronic illness rates and visits to the emergency room.
Mezzo:
Public Health Campaigns can reach a wider audience via multilingual ad campaigns
through social media avenues for younger generations and flyers and local radio for the elder
generation. These campaigns are important because they address issues faced by people all
over the world and how healthcare came to their aid. That may encourage others facing similar
situations to seek out similar solutions. For example, there is a huge stigma around drug abuse,
and those who suffer from addiction are hesitant to reach out for care. A national campaign
, could have stories of people who were addicts themselves, and how services such as peer
support groups (AA, SAMHSA) have helped them seek out care, follow the program, and
complete the medical detox period. The positive effects and better quality of life described by
these personal testimonies can encourage others who are facing similar illnesses, diseases, or
addictions to take the step to start the journey themselves.
Integrating Social Services and Behavioural Health programs will be beneficial to
the community by embedding these services within target-rich environments that are affected
most by chronic illnesses, addiction, and mental health issues. This integration strategy will help
reduce the negative implications revolving around the stigma of receiving mental health services
by strategically placing them in locations that are easy to access, requiring less travel, providing
further comfort in a local environment, and improving communication between patients and
providers.
Macro:
Public Health Campaigns can reach a wider audience through multilingual ad
campaigns via social media platforms for younger generations and flyers and local radio for the
elder generation. By partnering with the CDC and local clinics, we can raise awareness on the
dangers of substance abuse and normalize the conversation about addiction and seeking help.
This may encourage others facing similar situations to seek out corresponding solutions closer
to them. For example, there is a huge stigma around drug abuse, and those who suffer from
addiction are hesitant to reach out for care. A national campaign could have stories of people
who were addicts themselves, and how services such as peer support groups (AA, SAMHSA)
have helped them seek out care, follow the program, and complete the medical detox period.
The positive effects and better quality of life described by these personal testimonies can
encourage others who are facing similar illnesses, diseases, or addictions to take the step to
start the journey themselves.
Health Policy Advocacy is a critical part of ensuring that access to healthcare services,
protection, and funding is available to more people where they are needed most. Advocacy can
mean securing more funding for underserved communities and often giving a voice to
individuals who are frequently left unseen. Advocating for medicaid expansion helps prevent
illnesses and reduces treatment/ER costs by not only treating the physical symptoms, but
targeting the root issues causing barriers to healthcare.
B. Strategic Partnerships and Policy Development
B1: Strategic Partner: Housing and Social Services
Our community’s residents risk homelessness, with over one-third of households living in
poverty. Housing and food stability are direct health threats and may prevent patients from
seeking timely care, developing infections, or symptoms of chronic conditions progressing,
leading to emergency room use. By partnering with local housing and social services, we can
provide stable housing for patients who are receiving treatment for addiction. Secure housing
provides an environment where an individual can recover with minimal triggers and reduces the
risk of relapsing.
Organizational Stakeholder: Local Public Health Department
