The Appropriateness of the Role of the Hospital with Respect to Local Needs - Assignment Example

Running Head: HEALTH PROMOTION Health Promotion Name Institution Date PART A (1) The Appropriateness of the Role of the Hospital with Respect to Local Needs. Hospitals have various roles including delivering medical and nursing care to people who are ill and as an employer of various professionals among other roles. In addition to this hospitals have different tasks such as acute and long term medical and nursing care, clinical research and development, epidemiological inquiries and preventive screening programs, personnel development programs and medical education. Statistics shows that hospitals use amid 40% and 70% of the state run health care overheads and classically employ 1% to 3% of the operational population. The key role of hospitals is majorly of health promotion. Health promotion aims at shaping an individual’s action to prevent and reduce chances of their ill health and improve their well being. In addition, WHO defines Health promotion as the process of enabling people to increase control over, and improve their health. Health promotion is a multidimensional aspect which requires different approaches. As result there are many approaches used to promote health among people. Medical approach is one of the approaches and focuses on the physiological risk factors like immunization status and high blood pressure(O’Donnell M 2002) Behavioral approach focuses at the life style factors like smoking and physical inacticvity.Lastly, the socio-environmental approach focuses at the general conditions such as unemployment, low education and poverty. It has always been presumed by many that the core business of medical field and in particular hospitals is to promote health. However, this has not always been the case for instance, dating back in the 12th century, hospitals were built to provide support to the poor,elderly,psychologically deviant and other needy people in the society. In the 19th century hospitals were considered as a place where people die rather than restored to health (Allegantre JP 2009). Fortunately this changed with the development in the science of medicine field. In support of this development many changes have been implemented since then. For instance, WHO initiated a Health Promoting Hospitals project to advocate for health promotion and disease prevention. This project involved taking action prior to the onset of a health problem. This level of health promotion is referred to as primary prevention. This aims at reducing health risks as well as strengthening conditions that are conducive to good health. Another level of health promotion is the secondary prevention which involves interrupting problematic behaviors among those engaged in unhealthy decision making and showing early signs of a disease or a disability. For instance, smoking cessation among tobacco users and nutrition counseling and physical activities among the people leading a sedentary lifestyle and overweight. This level aims at early detection and reducing of existing health problems. It also aims at implementing specific protective measures. In addition, health promotion has a level known as tertiary level. This level aims at improving the lives of those with health complications. It also aims at preventing deterioration, reducing complications and preventing relapse into risky behaviors. These levels of health promotion aim at meeting the physical, mental and the social needs of the people in the society (kickbush I et al 2003).The rising prevalence of diseases which could have been prevented among many in the society, calls for health promotion strategies and this is where the hospitals come in Ottawa charter targets specific areas for health promotion. Initiating healthy public policy through incorporating diverse though complementally approaches, including legislation, fiscal measures, taxation and organization change. This policy needs barriers to the implementation of healthy civic policies in non health sectors identified and developing ways to eliminate them. Another area targeted includes the protection of natural resources and conservation. Reinforcing of community action for health is also paramount as it draws resources to enhance the development of flexible systems for strengthening public participation on health issues. Development of personal skill is also vital as it enables people in the society to cope with chronic illnesses and injuries (Perdue WC et al 2003). Re-orientation of health services is another strategy of health promotion. Certainly with the participation of health researchers too as changes education and training. A Hospital promoting health develops a mutual identity embracing the aims of health promotion besides providing quality comprehensive nursing and services. In relation to the local needs, a background information on the people of Australia shows that one third of them live outside major cities where access to health services is poor. These people face a significant health disadvantage and their mortality and morbidity levels are quite high. As an intervention to address this problem ‘Healthy Horizons, a framework to guide the development of health programs and services in rural, regional and remote Australia was implemented’. The local needs are in addition evidently shown by recorded health statistics. For instance, according to the joint report of Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (Arnold J et al 2006) and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2004-2005 29% of the indigenous adults were twice as likely as non-indigenous adults to report their health as poor and experience high levels of psychological distress. Most of the long term conditions responsible for much of the ill health experienced by indigenous people include circulatory diseases, kidney disease, ear and eye problem, respiratory diseases, diabetes and other health conditions. As if this is not enough, it is recorded that between 2005 and 2006 indigenous Australians were hospitalized for potentially preventable conditions at five times the rate of non indigenous Australians. Well, this can evidently be associated by the risk factors that the indigenous Australians involve themselves in. For instance, it is recorded between thy years 2004 and 2005 that half of the indigenous Australians adults were regular smokers, 16% of them had a long term history of copious consumption of alcohol putting their health at risk of many diseases. In addition, 57% of the population aged 15 years and above were obese or overweight. Certainly all these risk factors can be prevented or rather discouraged if the appropriate measures of health promotion are taken (Raeburn J et al 2007) Since Health professionals in hospitals have a sustained impact on influencing the behavior of the patients and their relatives. Hospitals play a vital role in promoting health, providing rehabilitation services and preventing diseases. This contributes to the reduction in the prevalence of chronic diseases, prevent premature deaths and improve the quality of life of patients thus the relevance of hospitals in health promotion. In addition, hospitals have a positive impact on the local environment and local economy through partnership with the community (Wong M et al 2002). PART A (2) Highlight Any Barriers to Change to the Role of Hospital Despite many contributions that the hospitals make for the betterment of peoples health, there are many barriers that are still outstanding. These barriers require an appropriate intervention to avoid hindering hospitals from achieving part of their core goal of health promotion. The major challenge for a health promoting hospital can be the effort to become a stronger resource for health as defined by WHO. In addition, other barriers include absence of an explicit strategic plan for general practice. In addition hospitals lack information due to poor quality clinical data. These barriers ought to be addressed because failure to do this would impede the Hospital’s ability to promote health Hospitals also lack authority to implement change where need be and unclear roles and responsibilities among staff members of the hospitals. Health promotion is a fundamental issue in sustaining a good quality of life and improving health however, the health promotion activities yields little results due to the existing standards therefore being a barrier to the achievement of the role of the hospital. In addition, reimbursement systems do not incorporate health promotion as an integral part of the hospital activities. Hospitals have failed to pay attention to their shareholders expectations that in return are responsible for health promotion activities. Effectiveness in most hospitals has not been achieved because they do not empower their patients on matters regarding health promoting production in treatment and care. Also hospitals have been reluctant in improving and increasing patient loyalty which is very important. Generally many hospitals have failed to implement strategies that help in improving hospital image in the community which is a vital thing to do. In addition, patients feel they want to identify themselves with hospitals that cater and respect their needs. PART A (3) Highlight Any Long term Threats Or Challenges You Think Face the Hospital Many hospitals lack finances to establish health literacy activities for diseases management and also inform people on how to achieve healthy lifestyles. Staff satisfaction has not been maintained thus demoralizing workers; therefore hospitals should increase staff motivation by allowing them to participate in health promotion and quality improvement. Hospitals have failed to adapt policies that will improve the physical and social-cultural environment for the population in the community. Quality strategies should be implemented to ensure excellence in leadership. This calls for incorporation of health promotion activities in the quality management systems. Guidelines and procedures should be established for improving the physical and social cultural workplace so as to achieve the overall objective of providing quality health care. However, hospitals delay in formulating policies that help in empowering and enlightening staff on managing the consequences of occupational diseases. These diseases pose a negative impact in the community. Hospitals are urged to document and integrate in patient record health promotion information. PART B Several steps should be undertaken to assist with long-term development or enhancement of the role of the hospital. Hospitals should invest in undertaking more local research and evaluation to drive service planning. Many hospitals are driven by the strong perception that their services need to be more targeted toward the needs of the people and not to their organs or physiological problems, in order to achieve a more substantial and lasting impact on health. Research equips the hospital with good data and information, clear policies and priorities (O’Neill M et al 2007). With this data hospitals develop a budget with an implementation plan. Carrying out research provides hospitals with viable information to describe health patterns of different parts of the worlds. Using the available data hospitals will be able to examine how existing structures and [process of health care can evolve into Health (Wong M et al 2002). In addition it examines contributions that they should adapt to emerging and innovative models of health care. Available data that will describe number of approaches to evaluate population health is provided and also highlights some of the challenges. Skilled and responsive workforce should be highly maintained for any hospital to achieve long-term development. Hospitals should offer training facilities to their staff to keep them informed. All staff working in the hospitals should be working in a healthy working condition, including minimal hospital hazards and psychosocial risk factors. Staff satisfaction should also be maintained. Hospitals can increase staff motivation by allowing them to participate in health promotion and also improvement in quality. In addition, for a hospital to sustain skilled and responsive workforce they should empower their staff that are involved in managing the consequences of occupation diseases (UOT 2008). Coordination and linkage between health and other services should be increased if long-term development is to be achieved. Improving communication between the hospital staff and the patients can help achieve this. Also this can be enhanced by provision of quality information and providing educational programs and skill training for patient and their relatives. Proper information systems should be developed so as to measure outcomes as well as serving administrative purposes well. Emphasis on prevention and earlier intervention should be increased. Hospitals should create awareness toward harmful products, resource depletion, unhealthy living standards and bad nutrition. Moreover hospitals should establish health literacy activities for diseases management and guidelines on how people should acquire healthy lifestyles. Earlier intervention can be achieved if only hospital can document and integrate in patient record health promotion. Long-term development in hospital can be achieved if they address the health needs of disadvantaged population. Many people lack access to proper health care due to their poor status. For instance in ATSI populations, indigenous Australians were hospitalized for potentially preventable conditions at five times the rate of non-indigenous. Due to lack of proper healthy living styles it was noted that over half {57%} of native people aged 15 years and over were obese or overweight. People living in remote areas may face difficulties accessing health facilities than those living in urban areas. This should serve as a wake up call for hospital to provide means of addressing health needs of the less privileged (ABS 2008). For effectiveness to be achieved hospitals should be able to develop healthy public policies. These policies will enhance the long term development of hospital. Staff members fail to deliver quality service due to lack of personal skill, therefore I call upon the hospital to ensure that all staff member better personal skills. Community felt that it was neglected by the hospitals. For community to feel that it is cared, for hospital should develop strategies to strengthen community action, this can be achieved by creating supportive environment. PART C Various challenges and reward are to be experienced while helping in health related issues. Health should be seen as a resource of everyday life, not the objective of living. Hospitals have failed to respond to the health gap within and between societies. Hospital should be able to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, by supplying health facilities and information to all. Health promotion activities embark upon these inequities in health rules and practices of the society. People are the main health resource and therefore they are urged to keep their families, friends and themselves healthy through economic and other means. In addition, hold seminars on nutrition and mobilize them to accept community fundamental in matters of health, living conditions and well- being. Improved hospital’s communication and cooperation helped to optimize the relation between various providers and staff in the health care sector (Raeburn J et al 2007). Many hospitals are reluctant to offer training facilities to their staff. Emphasized on the importance of training and educating personnel in areas relevant to health promotion, such as project management and communication skills. Hospitals are urged to undertake research as this will equip them with better information to scan the future trends and enable them to handle risks. Many hospitals fail to maintain a skilled and responsive health workforce. Skilled and responsive health workforce should be maintained by providing good working conditions and also staff satisfaction. There is increased supply of medical practitioners in metropolitan areas as compared to rural areas. Therefore rural areas require an effective and sustainable health services policy that will specifically takes into account of the unique and remote considerations. In addition, improved commonwealth relations will help to allocate scarce health resources effectively and efficiently across widely geographical setting. Inadequate resources may lead to poor provision of health services. Adequate funds should be allocated to meet the identified health needs of the community and the mode of funding should be appropriate. Many hospitals still have poor governance, management and leadership. Hospitals should be educated on the importance of having appropriate governance structures, adequate management skills and systems, for these are all hallmarks of successful services. Many hospitals have poor linkages within the health services relevant to patient care. Lack of proper infrastructure posed as big challenge in provision of health care. Therefore infrastructure should be adequate both physical and ICT system appropriate to the service. To overcome rural-urban differential will require better agreement on the classification schemes employed that specifically suits them. This scheme should be the basis for proper resource allocation and planning responses. Government should try and understand the nature of rural- urban differential and its underlying social and economic determinants. For long- term development of hospitals to be effective more researches should be carried out to determine to what degree rural and remote problems are due particularly to the nature of the environments (The Secretary ’ s Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention 2009). Formulating a comprehensive program evaluation is very helpful and vital to establish which policies and programs are most valuable at addressing the health rural issues. Governments should equip themselves with issues facing hospitals for only with such knowledge will they be able to respond efficiently and effectively within their constrained budgets. REFERENCES Alliance for Excellent Education. (November 2006). Healthier and wealthier: Decreasing health care costs by increasing educational attainment. Washington DC: The broad Education Foundation Arnold, J., & Breen, L. J. (2006). Images of health. Health promotion in Canada. Toronto: Canadian Scholars ’Press. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2009). Delivering on the nation’s investment in worker safety and health. Washington, DC: Author. O’ Donnell, M. (2002). Health promotion in the workplace. Florence, KY: Delmar Cengage Learning. O’ Neill, M., Pederson, A., Dup ér é, S., & Rootman, I. (Eds.). (2007). Health promotion In Canada: Critical perspectives (2nd Ed.). Toronto: Canadian Scholars’ Press. O’ Neill, M., & Stirling, A. 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