Tuesday, February 6, 2018
M3.2 Vulnerable Populations
I think it is important to make some changes in the way health care is delivered. Our environment is important in making diagnosis and creating a plan for treatment. If this were to be looked at from the start then we could possibly cut cost, keep people out of hospitals, and treat the patient rather than the symptoms. When addressing obesity and other chronic diseases in the US, we have to focus on our most vulnerable patients and their living situations. Health care workers can help make the changes needed in the environment if the patient gives consent. Clinicians and health care professionals tend to focus on sedentary lifestyles because influencing those behavioral changes might be easier than going deeper and thinking about other health factors. We tend to look at the socioeconomic status and their family support when providing health education, but education should also be provided about the environment. The unfortunate thing is that many vulnerable populations don't have the money for something that is better quality than canned food. The convenience of the canned food is necessary and that is how some of the highest amounts of chemicals get into ones system. If they don't have access to higher quality foods, how will one reduce these exposures? It is something the healthcare system has to think about.
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You are exactly right, how will people be able to reduce their consumption of toxic chemicals and thus prevent obesity if they do not have access to high quality foods? Although we, as a society, should be focusing more on prevention than treatment, it is difficult to promote prevention when you have these low-income populations. It is quite unfortunate.
ReplyDeleteHi Tina,
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right about making changes to how we deliver health care because everything is always evolving and adjustment needs to be made. I think that health care professionals only focus on what they can see and not go more in depth to what other underlining factors that may contribute to the disease.