Elements to be included in health prevention efforts
When compiling a health prevention effort, one must consider an agency’s or program’s ability to meet national health-related goals. In other words, the activity needs to prioritize interventions that dwell on the most pressing health need(s) in the country. Efforts such as lifestyle interventions are extremely valuable (US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2009). Secondly, one must consider the ability of that effort to affect healthcare delivery. The concerned program needs to be cost-effective. Therefore, economical knowledge about the effort is necessary for achieving promising outcomes. A health prevention effort must also incorporate the use of technology in its implementation process. Studies illustrate that programs that utilize technology tend to deliver better results than those that do not. Examples of such technologies or initiatives include Electronic Health records, which minimize inefficiencies in clinical information. They facilitate the dedication of additional time towards preventive health care. Additionally, a reputable health intervention program needs to focus on minimization of barriers to health care especially for those populations that are at the greatest risk. This should encompass the use of community preventive services for those groups. Furthermore, the program or activity needs to link clinical and community-based care. Prevention efforts ought to reinforce both clinical and community approaches because these two frameworks are fundamental in the delivery of effective services. For instance, a program can focus on providing tobacco cessation medication and counseling, but can also support its efforts by referring patients to a community-based prevention resource such as a home-based program for minimizing asthma triggers. This dual approach ensures that health efforts achieve desired outcomes.
Services and programs that I would include
The first department I would include in this effort will be the Department of Health and Human Services. The initiative will specifically focus on its health prevention program; a promotional strategy. This is because the organization has experience in key preventable diseases such as stroke, heart disease and diabetes. These diseases affect approximately 50 percent of the American population, so they should be addressed. Since most of the nation’s health care programs focus on treating people with chronic conditions, then this Department can address approximately 75% of all healthcare expenditures in the country. Estimates indicate that stakeholders use this percentage of healthcare revenue to treat chronic diseases. Prevention can contribute towards healthcare cost minimization by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Alcoholism and Substance abuse state agencies would also be a significant contributor to these efforts. The services that will be particularly useful in the initiative are the tobacco prevention initiatives; this is a health promotion and protection strategy. Research reveals that tobacco use is the number one source of avoidable deaths in the United States (Behan, 2009). Illnesses such as heart disease, lung cancer and emphysema, can all be prevented through tobacco prevention. Tobacco also increases healthcare costs in the country besides contributing to these conditions. Substance abuse state agencies can assist in the implementation of cessation or prevention programs, secondary smoke protection initiatives and government laws and taxes intended for smoking reduction.
Health Care Cost Containment agency can be a crucial part of this effort, as well. Preventable disease prevention would be the targeted service in this health prevention initiative, and it is clinical. This is because preventable diseases account for a large portion of US health expenditures and the agency often focuses on the minimization of these costs (Cohen et al., 2008). The cost containment agency would work on environmental and lifestyle changes such as dietary changes and exercise programs. Other prevention programs also focus on partnering with corporate stakeholders such as Motorola in the Motorola Wellness program.
Those that I would include for scope and cost and why I would leave others
On top of the first three, I would also include Public health, Council on health and Fitness, and Aging. Obesity contributes to 20% of all chronic conditions in the US. Consequently, preventive programs that prevent obesity would be critical, and this includes the Council on Health and Fitness. Aging, as an agency, is part of the initiative because it targets a precise population, which is at risk of suffering from most chronic conditions. Public health has a wide scope of services that can address infectious diseases like HIV and Hepatitis. These are also crucial health care priorities in the US today. Research shows that health care prevention costs will be much lower if an initiative focuses on disease aversion rather than amelioration of the condition. Additionally, if the measure targets a high-risk population, then it is likely to lead to favorable results than one that has a broader mandate. The above-mentioned agencies have initiatives that target high-risk groups and are more likely to create cost savings.
I would leave off the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Nuclear Regulatory Commissions, Department of Justice, Department of Commerce, Nuclear Safety, Emergency Services and Disaster Agency. These departments do not focus solely on health-related outcomes. Their scope is too wide to lead to tangible health care effects. Furthermore, they do not target high-risk populations. They can deal with the social and economic goals of the country well.
References
Behan, D. (2009). Economic effects of environmental tobacco smoke. Schaumburg, IL: Society of Actuaries.
Cohen, J., Neumann, S. & Weinstein, M. (2008). Does preventive care save money? New England Journal of Medicine, 358, 661-663.
US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2009). Behavioral risk factor surveillance system survey data. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services.