Vulnerable Population in the Workplace Project - Essay Example

In my workplace for example there are a number of people whose access to health care leaves a lot to be desired. The problem in understanding these vulnerable people lies heavily on ignorance and poor decisions made by policy makers. For example, HIV patients need better facilities that are reasonably close to them and that treat and offer counselling facilities (O'Donnell 417). This paper will evaluate the presence of barriers in understanding their vulnerability and offer an action plan of creating awareness of this vulnerability.

PATIENT BARRIERS Mental health problems People of unsound mind are in most cases reluctant to access any medication even of their mental condition (O'Donnell 401). As such it is even harder to undergo a complete dosage of any other illness leave alone HIV infection. Substance abuse problems HIV patients who abuse drugs tend to neglect the importance of taking proper medication. Drugs usually tend to simplify the gravity of the need to access descent health care. It is also not healthy to take HIV medication together with drugs and as such drug abusers opt to continue with drugs neglecting medication in return.

Transportation problems When transportation to a heath facility is an issue HIV patients are less likely to seek treatment especially where regular check up is in the offing. Lack of social support system HIV is a stigmatising ailment where social support no matter how negligible can assist a great deal (O'Donnell 456). In situations where this is lacking, people shy away from approaching health practitioners for fear that such a leak will result to social discrimination. SYSTEM BARRIERS Childcare not available at clinic Children patients often require better care than adults due to their vulnerable nature.

Childcare facilities are thereby necessary in close proximity to children patients and lack of it reduces their chances of accessing health care from distant facilities. Clinic locations/services not convenient Location of clinical services also acts as a barrier to accessing treatment for HIV patients. At these locations there may able be inconvenient services which frustrate patients’ efforts of accessing descent health care. Cost of HIV care This barrier is one of the most significant as it affects many patients not only in the United States but the world over.

It is actually worse in the developed world where poverty levels are intense. It is also a fact that cheap health care is not as reliable setting it that the poor are hugely barred from accessing quality health care. Unfriendly HIV care system Facilities that offer HIV care are at times discriminatory of manifest negligence in offering medical care. As earlier stated, HIV is a stigma attached condition where patients’ psychological wellbeing is of essence. Lack of this consideration chases many away neglecting medication altogether.

It is important to ensure that an organisation has mechanisms in place that help to identify the vulnerable groups within the workplace so as to eliminate unnecessary losses. It is also a gesture of good faith and concern for an organisation to establish, for example, counselling facilities in the workplace or pay for related expenses. There is room for improvement and total change in the way such people are recognised and treated. The management needs to develop a sub-department where vulnerable people can report their cases and