Assessment 2: Summary Report on Rural Health Care and Affordable Solutions

Name

Capella University

Instructor Name

July, 2024

Summary Report on Rural Health Care and Affordable Solutions

There are always major health challenges that affect rural populations, and one of them is the issue of chronic conditions like diabetes. Thus, people with specific needs are cut off from specialized care, healthcare professionals, and health literacy, which results in improper control of the disease and adverse outcomes. This summary report will consider the issue of diabetes care delivery among adults in rural settings. The report will focus on resources that consist of an interprofessional team, along with profiling cultural competence weaknesses and propose technology-aided solutions for the primary care of diabetes in rural regions while contemplating legal and ethical issues that must be considered for further solutions.

Diabetes Management in Rural Communities

Among the major health complications facing the adult population, there are concerns about diabetes in the rural community being Greene County. Due to the lack of proper disease management, people in Greene County are more likely to experience complications of diabetes because the region has restricted possibilities to attend healthcare facilities and see providers. Diabetes is a lifelong chronic disease whereby adults in this population fail to access specialty diabetes care, education, and resources, hence worsening the condition. Research by Dugani et al. (2021) revealed that rural patients with diabetes are 30% more likely to be complicated by the disease than their urban counterparts. Precipitating factors further compound the problem among the patients. A study by Dhediya et al. (2023) demonstrated that telehealth interventions positively impact diabetes management in rural areas by facilitating endocrinologists and diabetes educators’ access. Care coordinators face cultural and diversity-aware responsibilities and highlight that most patients included are older adults with varying socio-economic status, making them understand that education and care plans should match their levels when providing information to the patients (Dhediya et al., 2023). It includes adopting culturally appropriate approaches and materials in distributing information and using community resources.

Inter Professional Team Analysis

The interprofessional care team for diabetes management in Greene County comprises primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, dietitians, and community health workers. Nevertheless, such providers can prove their commitment to their profession as there are many difficulties with the shortage of specialists and supplies. These telehealth partnerships could enhance their work by granting patients access to endocrinologists and diabetes educators remotely, as detailed in the study conducted by Haleem et al. (2021), pointing to a telehealth consultation leading to better patient outcomes. Also, it allows continuous monitoring and education. According to the study conducted by Bouabida et al. (2022), telehealth interventions effectively improve glycemic control in patients in rural areas. Preparing other related stakeholders in society, such as local pharmacies and prominent organizations, helps boost support systems (Dugani et al., 2021). Prescription filling involves medication management services, which the pharmacies can provide (Haleem et al., 2021). At the same time, the community, such as patients’ support groups and others, can help provide educational information and help organize such organizations as support groups. These care coordination partnerships guarantee integrated and culture-informed treatment targeting the biological and psychosocial aspects of people’s existence.

Cultural Competency Needs

For providing diabetic care in Greene County, cultural sensitivity is a crucial factor to consider during care coordination. The population consists of the elderly, low-income earners, and minorities which groups are bound to have pre-existing diverse cultures and health literacy. The interprofessional team members need to be aware of these differences to establish trust within the team and with the patients. As mentioned in research by Joo & Liu (2021), culturally competent care enhances patients’ compliance with therapy regimens and overall health since these strategies respect the ethnic customs and perceptions of the patient. It becomes crucial for the dietitian to appreciate cultural delicacies that individuals have, the economic power when it comes to planning healthy meals that the client or patient can easily follow, and lastly, embrace communication barrier bows that respect patients’ cultural values. As noted by Walkowska et al. (2023), cross-cultural communication manners in coordination encourage the teamwork of the care team and bring about the satisfaction of patients. Cultural competency training and the use of culturally close community health workers contribute to better communication, patient engagement, and, thus, the effectiveness of diabetes care in the rural community (Zarif, 2022).

Technology-Based Outreach Strategies

Telemedicine technology is critical in enriching the management of diabetes in these regions. A study by Şahin et al. (2024) indicated that as a consequence, with telehealth services, access to specialized care is enhanced since patients can physically consult an endocrinologist or a diabetes educator without having to travel long distances. As depicted by Sugandh et al. (2023), smartphones and other technologies, including mobile health applications and remote monitoring tools, are useful in diabetes since they promote real-time response and constant glucose analysis. These technologies help monitor the patient’s status and address their condition when they aggravate. Hence, Zhang & Saltman (2022) observed the research findings. One care consideration is synchronizing electronic health records (EHRs) with the telehealth application to enable the primary care physician to share patient information with the relevant specialists. According to Bhattad & Pacifico (2022), using webinars in patient education and providing virtual support groups benefit and enhance patients’ control over their condition. Thus, the mentioned evidence-based strategies compensate for the lack of access to health care and enhance the inhabitants’ health in rural areas.

Legal Implications in Care Coordination

Several vital factors are needed to evaluate the legalities of care coordination with rural diabetes. The first consideration involves safeguarding the patient’s data and how this can be achieved especially in light of the expansion of the use of telehealth and mobile health solutions. Layman (2020) noted that AI algorithms have been applied to improve the criminal justice system, so they persist in streamlining it. Considering the evaluated communication purpose and storage guidelines, it is important to abide by HIPAA requirements regarding patient data communication (Zhang & Saltman, 2022). Another issue is telehealth worker licensure and the ability of healthcare providers who conduct telehealth services to be licensed in other states, which can develop issues related to rules and requirements. According to Eberle & Stichling (2021), there is an issue with the standardization of the telehealth legislation across various states, frustrating the telehealthcare process and exposing the providers to legal risks. Applying these concepts entails embracing elaborate policies and provider training regarding legal issues affecting the client’s needs and management.

Ethical Care Continuation

The future of ethical care to patients in rural settings for this disease will depend on patient’s self-determination, privacy, and fair equity in health care management, especially through the new diabetes management system. According to Eberle & Stichling (2021), telehealth platforms should get permission from a patient for all remote consultations and make sure that the patient understands all the available care plans. It is an important aspect, especially when managing electronic health records or telehealth communications, where there are strict measures in ethical practices and HIPAA laws. Based on the study by Mumtaz et al. (2023), a proper determination of the effective use of technology and healthcare resources requires the equal provision of these elements to all patients. It entails offering instruction and any required tutoring of patients who may be technologically illiterate. Thus, by maintaining these ethical principles, there is an opportunity to improve the organization of teamwork and guarantee the deserved attitude and proper individual patient care in the new format.

NURS FPX 6616 Assessment 2 Summary Report on Rural Health Care and Affordable Solutions Conclusion

To fully address managing diabetes in Greene County and other rural areas, some core challenges must be addressed, such as limited access to care, cultural sensitivity, and legal and ethical issues. Telemedicine and other technological outreach approaches can help healthcare providers provide special needs care and increase patients’ health status (Sugandh et al., 2023). Besides, the care coordinators must adhere to cultural competence principles and work within legal and ethical frameworks. By such approaches, there are prospects of realizing cheap, effective, and efficient inventions to enhance the overall health of diabetic patients from rural folks.

 References

Bhattad, B., & Pacifico, L. (2022). Empowering patients: Promoting patient education and health literacy. Cureus, 14(7), e27336. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.27336 Bouabida, K., Lebouché, B., & Pomey, M. P. (2022). Telehealth and COVID-19 pandemic: An overview of the telehealth use, advantages, challenges, and opportunities during COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare, 10(11), 2293. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10112293