Access to Cataracts Treatment in Marine Park - Research Proposal Example

Access to Cataracts Treatment in Marine Park Cataracts are clouding of the eye lens that is extremely common due to aging in most cases. Some of the cases are not that significant thus don’t need treatment while others require surgical removal of the clouding. The removal of cataracts through surgery is normally effective and safe with the end results of improved vision. It is normally conducted when the visual lose impacts significantly the life of the patients (NIE, 2010). Only New York Community Hospital conducts cataracts surgery in Marine Park. The Community Problem: Accessing Cataracts Treatment The data by the National Eye Institute show that the eye, cataracts starts as early as the age of 40 years (NEI, 2010). The Marine Park county level statistics show that 15,991 out of 33, 845 people are exposed to this disease (Weichert, 2015). In the interview section, the informants agreed that accessibility of cataracts treatment is a problem (Refer to Interview Section). The only health facility in the area that cataract surgery can be accessed is New York Community Hospital. The hospital’s human capital is not sufficient to scan and treat the cataracts. The rise of cataracts cases can be high in the near future since it is genetic and the same time caused by sunlight exposure. Target Population The target population is those above 40 years of age with consideration given to the younger population that might have got the disease through injury. According to the Marine Park county population statistics, the target population is approximately 15, 991 (Weichert, 2015). The target population stipulated is the number of the Marine Park population that is above 40 years of age (NIE, 2010). Goals of the Project The main goal of the project is to ensure that cataracts patients access treatment (Healthy People 2020, 2012). The first goal of the project is to ensure that baseline data is formed in relation to the population that suffers from cataracts. The second goal is to see that institutions are developed in the area and qualified human resource put in place so as to ensure effectiveness. The third goal of the project will be to see that this population has the access to the facilities and services that will ensure that the cataracts are treated. The project aims to put forth information to the public in relation to cataracts with the aim to ensure prevention of some of the preventable cases. The project also aims to put measures through which accountability and effectiveness will be ensured in all the project processes (Healthy People 2020, 2012). Healthy People Leading Health Indicators to be addressed The Healthy People Health Indicators to be addressed are Access to Health Services and Environmental Quality. The project aims to improve access on the cataracts health services. It also aims to create awareness creation on how the sun rays (Environmental Issue) impacts on the eyes (NYCPedia, 2013). The project will achieve the goal through development of additional health centers that specializes in the cataracts treatment. In return, costs in relation to treatment are will be reduced and the same time the geographical distance will be reduced. The project will improve the number of qualified physicians in the area (Healthy People 2020, 2012). The implementation of the project will improve access to health services (Leading Indicator 1). Partners The partners for the project will be the local community, the county government, the state and the federal government. Interested professional, more so in the health field will also be considered for partnership. The already existing health centers and bodies that have been working in the field of health will be approached too for partnership. The partnership will be done at all levels of the community with both the locals and the community leaders being involved. The major aim of this will be to ensure sustainability of the project such that it may exist even after the exit project is conducted (County of Marin, 2014). Potential Funding The potential funders will be in the global, regional and local levels. The global level will include approaching the intergovernmental bodies like the World Health Organization, UNESCO among others. Another potential funder will be the federal government of the United States. Since the project aims to support its citizens, we will hope for donations and grants from the federal government of the U.S. This can be provided through the platforms like the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality funding and grants (AHRO, 2015). This will also apply to the state and county government. Additional funds will be expected through donation from the locals who will be willing. Evaluation Process The effectiveness of the project will be determined by first the production of the baseline data. The baseline data will be the first and the most important milestone that should be achieved. The relation of this data to the already existing data will determine the eligibility of the data. In general, the project success will be determined by the number of people that visit the health centers. It will also be evaluated by the reduction of the cataracts cases in the Marine park community (National Association of Realtors, 2015). Future Plans There will be additional funding that will be expected to support the day to day running of the program for a given period of time. The funding can be from donations, well wishers and through the government giving the necessary equipments. The future plan for the project is that it be owned by the government and the community in the near future. The sustainability of the project will be ensured through involvement of the public in all the decision making activities. The government will also be forced to bring in human resource and pay them as an exit program as it is passed to the government. There will be some charges that are charged for the services, but the charges will be relatively little compared to those charged from the other health centers (Silvius & Tharp, 2013). List of Activities Timetable Activities/ Timetable Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Awareness Creation * Baseline Data Collection * Development of Temporary Health Centers * * * Start of Cataracts Treatment * * Monitoring and Evaluation * * * * * * * * * * * * Project Adjustment * * * * * * * * * * * * Outcomes As a result, project participants will enable the impact of the project to be felt in the community. The cases of cataracts will be reduced through prevention and treatment thus making Marine Park a cataract free community. Evaluation Activities Anticipated Outcome Quantitative Measure Awareness Creation Marine Park population of age 40 years and above to be aware of the proposed project. The number of people that will participate in activities. Baseline Data Collection All the community members at age 40 and above will participate. The number of community members who participates in the baseline data collection. Development of Temporary Health Centers There will be six health centers developed in different areas of Marine Park community. The number of health centers built in the Marine Park community by the project. Start of Cataracts Treatment From the interview conducted 43 out of 50 households have cataracts patients. Total number of households is 11, 544. Therefore; 43/ 50 x 11, 544 Anticipated number= 9,927 people The number of people that come for cataract treatment. Monitoring and Evaluation The projects will be monitored and evaluated throughout the project. The number of M&E forms filled. Correction on the Project That there will be changes in the project to make it suitable in the real situation. The number of times that changes has occurred on the project’s master plan. Budget Item Number Total Amount Six ophthalmologists 8 hours x $ 30 x 225 days $54, 000 Four awareness creators 8 hours x $ 40x 30 days $ 9,600 Six Data collectors 8 hours x $ 30 x 27 days $6, 480 Six Temporary Health Centers Construction 6x $ 10, 000 $ 60,000 M&E activities 10 specialists x $40 x 360 $ 144,000 Treatment Instruments 6 x $ 200, 000 $ 1, 200,000 Total US$ 1,474,080 References AHRO (2015). Funding and Grants. Retrieved from http://www.ahrq.gov/funding/ County of Marin (2014). Health and Wellness Services. Retrieved from http://www.marincounty.org/residents/health-wellness Healthy People 2020 (2012). Helping Improve Access to Health Services. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/healthy-people-in-action/story/helping-improve- access-to-health-services National Association of Realtors (2015).Lifestyle and Demographics. Retrieved from http://www.realtor.com/local/Marine-Park_New-York_NY/lifestyle NIE (2010). Cataracts. https://www.nei.nih.gov/eyedata/cataract#1 NYCPedia (2013) Education in Marine Park. Retrieved from http://nyc.pediacities.com/Resource/Education/Marine_Park Silvius, G., & Tharp, J. (2013). Sustainability integration for effective project management. Hershey: IGI Global. Weichert (2015). Marine Park Brooklyn, NY overview. Retrieved from http://www.weichert.com/search/community/neighborhood.aspx?hood=5373 Read More