The Barriers to Progress in Institute of Medicine Reports - Essay Example

? Health Care The essay aims to address a two-fold objective to wit to explain barriers to progress in Institute of Medicine (IOM) reports; and (2) to discuss different public health services using information from other sources. Health Care Introduction Health Care is defined as the services that intend with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of illness and diseases. Health services are provided by school, district and public nurses, midwives, dentists, and physicians. Health and social care services in cooperation with the local and national government were united to provide a quality service and accessibility of health services to the people especially to the indigent one (Cowley, 2008, p. 3-4). Institute of Medicine (IOM) Institute of Medicine (IOM) provides an analysis of the governmental role in meeting the health needs of the nation. In addition, IOM is responsible in promoting and protecting the health of the nation through public health services. The mission of public health as defined by the IOM is “fulfilling society’s interest in assuring conditions in which person can be healthy” (Blue & Ivanov, 2009, p. 28). Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends the government regarding about health issues of the public, and recommend in addressing barriers to progress. For example, clarifying the use of sex and gender terms, the IOM report stressed sex differences in the prevalence and severity of the condition of diseases, disorders, and medical conditions. Also, supporting and conducting additional research on sex differences, this report emphasized the need to test sex differences in the case and incidence of different diseases and severity of pain, pain syndromes and pain management. Other recommendation for addressing barriers to progress as making sex-specific data more readily available, for example regarding coronary artery disease, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia are more prone in men than in women until their late 40’s and early 50’s then in the early 60’s the prevalence is higher now in women than in men. The fourth one is encouraging and support interdisciplinary research concerning sex differences. For instance, myocardial infarction signs and symptoms demonstrate distinct differences on men and women. In women, they also experienced shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain respectively while in men, acute and crushing chest pain is present. That’s why; research really helps in the progress of medicine field. Reducing the potential for sex differentiation is another technique in addressing barriers to progress (Shaw & Redberg, 2004, p. 5-7). Nowadays, what man can make is also the woman can execute in terms of work, profession, employment, etc. so that sex discrimination is lesser now compare before. 10 Essential Public Health Services According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), essential public health services offer the fundamental framework for the National Public Health Performance Standards Program (NPHPSP), by describing public health activities and programs that should be undertaken in the communities, and ensuring the quality and accessibility of health care services. The Core Public Health Functions Steering Committee representatives from US Public Health Service agencies and other major public health organizations expand the fundamental framework for the Essential Services (CDC, 2010, n.p.). The 10 Essential Services in public health provides a working definition and responsibilities of local public health systems. The first one is monitoring health status to identify and solve community health problems; this service comprises of assessment of health status of the community, health risk of the population, and health threats. It also focuses on vital statistics of the population who are health risk rather than the general population as a whole. Also, it aims with the assessment of community resources which can be available for the community. The next one is to diagnose, observe, investigate, health problems and health hazards in the community. Epidemiology is the study concerned with the factors that determined and influenced the frequency and distribution of disease, injury, and other health-related events and their causes in a specific population. Epidemiological study is important in this aspect of public service. Inform, educate, and empower people about health issues is the other essential services. The service is designed to educate the community people about different activities to reduce health problems, prevention and promotion of better health. For instance, if the public were informed regarding health issues, it would be a great help in improving health status. Besides, mobilizing community partnerships and action to identify and solve health problems, is another service offered. Cooperation, teamwork and support are the key elements in solving problems. The people in the community, the health care provider and the government should work hand in hand to improve public health. Facilitating among groups and associations to define health improvements, such as rehabilitation, preventive screening and support programs. The fifth essential service is to develop policies and plans that support individual and community health efforts. In this case, the national government really needs to support local levels to protect and guide the health of the public. Systematic health planning is significant to build up strategies and actions to guide health improvement of the community. It also includes development of legislation, policies, rules and regulations, ordinances to facilitate public health services. Another part of essential services is to enforce laws, and regulations that protect health and will ensure safety of the public. The review, evaluation, and revisions of law are essential to protect health and safety and to assure compliance. The community needs further education for the rules and regulations to encourage compliance and discipline. Link people to needed personal health services and assure the provision of health care when otherwise unavailable is another public health activity. The service pertains to identifying the populations with barriers to health care facility. For example, the community is on far flung areas, accessibility is the main problem. Assessment of availability, quality for health care services and partnership with the support groups, private and public sector to ensure outreach services to preventive and curative care is a fundamental task. On the other hand, assuring competent public and personal health care workforce is one of the key for the success of the different programs. Education, training, professionalism for the health care workers are required to maintain quality service and good leadership of the personnel. The ninth essential public health service is evaluate effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of personal and population based health services which pertains to reviewing health program to determine effectiveness and quality of services to the community. The last one is conducting research studies for developing new insights and innovative solutions to health problems. Research study is always part of the plan, in which research can discover other alternatives and techniques in improving the quality of health care of the people. Support and participation of the community would be a big help (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010, n.p.). Conclusion According to famous quotations, health is wealth. Cooperation, collaboration, education, discipline and teamwork are the secret for healthy living. No need for any financial matters, as they say “Prevention is better than cure”. References Cowley, S. (2008). Core Functions of Public Health Nursing. Community Public Health in Policy and Practice (2nd ed.) (p. 2-27). Philadelphia: Elsevier Limited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 10 Essential Public Health Service. Retrieved on November 29, 2011 from http://www.cdc.gov/nphpsp/essentialServices.html Redberg, R.F. & Shaw, L.J. (2004). The Institute of Medicine Report, Women’s Cardiovascular Health, and Evidenced- Based Medicine. Coronary Disease in Women Evidenced- Based Diagnosis and Treatment (p.3-7). New Jersey: Humana Press Read More