Prevention of Chronic Diseases in the USA - Research Paper Example

Prevention of Chronic Diseases in the USA Abstract The United States of America spends 75 percent of its health budget every year in the treatment of chronic diseases (CDC, 2013). In addition to leading to burgeoning health care costs and compromising quality of life, chronic diseases are the leading causes of disability and deaths in the United States. However, studies have shown that chronic diseases such as stroke, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and cancer, which are among the most common, can be prevented. The Prevention and Affordable Care Act is a comprehensive health reform that makes preventive care more affordable and accessible for majority of Americans. The provision on clinical and community preventative services is one of the main provisions of this act that is critical in the prevention of chronic diseases. The professional nurses have an important role in implementing this provision. Prevention of Chronic Diseases Introduction According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2013), the American nation spends 75 percent of its health care budget to treat chronic diseases. Chronic diseases are the nation’s leading causes of disability and death. The conditions of chronic diseases leave in their wake compromised life quality, deaths that could have been prevented, as well as burgeoning costs of health care. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) that President Obama signed into law in March 2010, is a comprehensive health reform that makes preventive care more affordable and accessible for majority of Americans. The Affordable Care Act has numerous provisions that are aimed at making preventive care more affordable and accessible for majority of Americans (Fortin et al, 2013). This paper will focus on the specific provision of clinical and community preventive services and the role of professional nurses in implementing this provision. Clinical and Community Preventative Services Clinical and community preventative services form part of the Affordable Care Act aims at making preventive care more accessible and affordable for Americans. These services are very effective in not only detecting diseases early, but also in preventing diseases particularly among the older adults who are at higher risk of chronic diseases. The recommended core set of clinical and community preventative services are largely based on gender and age (Slonim et al, 2013). This provision calls for the joining or linking clinical organizations and public or community health organizations in improving clinical preventive services. It is characterized by their trust, time commitment, and resource exchange and sharing, as well as sharing of responsibilities and risks aimed at improving delivery, quality, and access to preventive services. Clinical and community preventive services also increase public and particular patients’ access to comprehensive and medical care services. Community organizations’ clients lacking regular primary care can be treated and evaluated by clinicians for chronic and acute conditions. Patients of primary care practices significantly benefit from referrals to health organizations at community level, which tend on focusing on social health determinants such as food needs, employment, or housing (Feldman, 2011). The provision of clinical and community preventative services in the Affordable Care Act is fundamental in the prevention of chronic diseases. This provision seeks to enhance the delivery of preventive services in the following areas: physical activity, nutrition, tobacco use, and obesity. The provision also focuses on the broader aspects of prevention of chronic diseases such as health promotion, health professional capacity building and disease prevention (Fortin et al, 2013). It addresses the collaborations of the following issues towards prevention of chronic diseases: biomedical issues including immunizations, communicable disease control, and chronic disease; socio-environmental issues including environmental health, poverty reduction, and disaster response planning; and behavioral issue such as smoking cessation (Slonim et al, 2013). This provision seeks to ensure effective primary care linkages with community or local public health public health agencies so as to increase primary care prevention efforts. CDC (2013) observes that clinical and community preventative services can be critically crucial in the prevention, detection, and even forestalling disease early when treatment is very effective. It is for this reason that it advocates for increased access to clinical preventive services mainly through community linkages. It argues that this will not only go a long way in achieving health equity and eliminating disparities by 2020, but also in broadening access to health services beyond the traditional settings. Role of Professional Nurses in Implementing Clinical and Community Preventative Services Professional nurses have a very important role to play in implementing the ACA’s provision on clinical and community preventative services. Basically, they have a role of facilitating effective primary care linkages with community public health agencies with the view of increasing primary care prevention efforts (Feldman, 2011). A good example is where professional nurses can provide training to primary care practices in order to enhance the 18-month well baby visits. Also, they can train primary care staff on the best practices of controlling the spreading of respiratory infections. Also, they can volunteer their services at free clinics and health fairs in their communities and train community staff on the ways of conducting primary care screenings (Fortin et al, 2013). Conclusion The Affordable Care Act is a comprehensive health reform legislation that makes preventive care more affordable and accessible to majority of Americans. Considering that treatment of chronic diseases consume 75 percent of the United States’ budget on health care, there is need to focus more on the prevention of chronic diseases. The provision on clinical and community preventative services is one of the main provisions of this act that is critical in the prevention of chronic diseases. as has been noted, this provision will significantly increase access to comprehensive medical care and services and play an important role in prevention of chronic diseases. Professional nurses have an important role of facilitating effective primary care linkages with community public health agencies with the view of increasing primary care prevention efforts. References CDC. (2013). Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Retrieved on 15 October, 2013 from http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/index.htm Feldman, A. (2011). Understanding Health Care Reform: Bridging the Gap between Myth and Reality. CRC Press. Fortin M et al. (2013). Evaluating the integration of chronic disease prevention and management services into primary health care. BMC Health Services Research, 13(1), 1-13. Slonim A et al. (2013). Strategic priorities to increase use of clinical preventive services Among Older US Adults. Preventing Chronic Disease 2013: 10 Read More