Local Health Problems
In Magnolia, Texas, there are a lot of healthcare problems. According to the Houston, Texas Health Rankings(2023), it is among the least healthy areas in Texas, with high rates of bad habits, suicides, and health inequality. According to Lotz et al. (2022), a lack of hospitals and other healthcare facilities is widespread, and local physicians struggle with shortages in staff and medical supplies. In addition, there are other problems, such as low-quality water, and the local government cannot efficiently solve this problem, according to Grossman (2022). Therefore, the region’s high inequality level and low medical care support are significant challenges that must be addressed.
Health Status Indicators in the Region
These two health status indicators show that the region has problems providing all its citizens with decent medical care and a quality of life. According to Healthy People 2030 (2023), it is essential to identify overall needs and the most vulnerable social groups before deciding how to act. Almost 89% of local people have medical insurance, of which nearly 70% is private. However, populations with less than $75,000 annually have no insurance in more than 15% of all cases (Magnolia, Texas: Healthcare Data and Hospitals, 2022).
According to Magnolia Demographics(2022), 15% of its population is Hispanic. Still, according to Magnolia, Texas: Healthcare Data and Hospitals(2022), 26% of them have no insurance, clearly showing that they are a vulnerable group too. Given all the facts about the water supply problems and healthcare shortages, the local government cannot address these problems successfully.
Strategies to Overcome the Problems
From my perspective, it is essential to consider two crucial indicators of healthcare problems: health inequality and low medical coverage. Then, identify two of the most vulnerable groups: low-income families and racial minorities, especially Hispanics. As most people have private medical insurance from their employers, it indicates a lack of public healthcare support in the area, which should be provided based on the mentioned indicators. Lastly, progress should be closely monitored, and these indicators should be checked to see whether they are changing and how public medical support can be implemented to satisfy all healthcare needs.
References
Grossman, D. (2022). “It’s pretty gross”: Magnolia residents say they’ve been dealing with ongoing water issues for months. KPRC. Web.
Healthy People 2030. (2023). Health. Web.
Houston, Texas Health Rankings. (2023). County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. Web.
Lotz, A., Thompson, K., & Nair, J. (2022). Experts: Health care access a struggle for growing Tomball, Magnolia community. Community Impact. Web.
Magnolia Demographics. (2022). Texas Demographics. Web.
Magnolia, Texas: Healthcare data and hospitals. (2022). TownCharts. Web.