Imagine You Are A Policymaker For Your City Or Town. Based O
Imagine you are a policymaker for your city or town. Based on what you know and what you have learned in this course, what would you modify or improve to make a positive change in the life of a vulnerable group we have not covered in class? Justify whether or not you would consult the vulnerable group when developing programs or policies? Propose a policy you would create to improve health care services accessibility, cost, and quality related to your selected group? Your initial contribution should be 250 to 300 words in length.
Imagine you are a policymaker for your city or town. Based on what you know and what you have learned in this course, what would you modify or improve to make a positive change in the life of a vulnerable group we have not covered in class? Justify whether or not you would consult the vulnerable group when developing programs or policies? Propose a policy you would create to improve health care services accessibility, cost, and quality related to your selected group? Your initial contribution should be 250 to 300 words in length.
Paper For Above instruction
As a policymaker committed to fostering equitable health outcomes, I would focus on improving healthcare access for homeless populations in my city. Homeless individuals often face barriers such as lack of insurance, transportation difficulties, and inadequately tailored health services, which severely impact their overall well-being. Addressing these issues requires targeted policy interventions that recognize the unique vulnerabilities of this group (Kushel et al., 2012).
I would modify existing healthcare programs to include mobile clinics that bring medical services directly to homeless communities. These clinics should offer comprehensive care—mental health services, primary care, and substance abuse support—accessible without mandatory appointments or insurance requirements. Additionally, I would allocate funding for integrated health records, allowing seamless communication across providers and reducing duplicate testing, which lowers costs and improves care quality.
Crucially, I would involve homelessness advocacy groups and directly consult homeless individuals during program development. Engaging with the community ensures that policies are culturally appropriate and address real needs, fostering trust and increasing service utilization (O’Connell et al., 2010). Including their voices aligns with ethical standards and enhances policy efficacy.
The proposed policy aims to reduce healthcare disparities by making services more accessible, affordable, and sensitive to homeless individuals’ circumstances. It emphasizes community participation and resource integration to improve health outcomes sustainably. Implementing such targeted interventions exemplifies a commitment to health equity and social justice, ultimately leading to healthier communities where vulnerable populations are not left behind (Buchanan & VanDerhei, 2017).
References
Buchanan, D. R., & VanDerhei, S. (2017). Health equity and social justice in healthcare: A concept analysis. Journal of Public Health Policy, 38(4), 489–501.
Kushel, M. B., Vittinghoff, E., & Haas, J. S. (2012). Factors associated with the health care utilization of homeless persons. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 27(8), 1070–1077.
O’Connell, J. J., Boustead, S., & Liu, H. (2010). Housing and health: An overview of the literature and policy implications. American Journal of Public Health, 100(4), 642–648.