Community Health Change Proposal Summary Report: Catron County, New Mexico
Executive Summary
Today, the United States is experiencing an unprecedented increase in the percentage of its elderly population, driven largely by the aging of the baby boomer generation (Grinin et al., 2021). In this regard, Ahmed (2023) emphasizes that, More than 55 million people across the USA are aged 65 or older. With an increasing number of baby boomers reaching retirement age and older generations living longer, the US is graying drastically (para. 3). This profound demographic shift has significant implications for health care practitioners in general and nursing professionals in particular, prompting the need for innovative approaches to address the unique healthcare needs and challenges of older adults. To this end, a regional healthcare program in Catron County, New Mexico, which has one of the highest percentages of elderly in the country today at 43.3%, could focus on enhancing primary care services for older adults to promote healthy aging and prevent chronic diseases for the reasons discussed further below (Ahmed, 2023).
Proposed Change
Older adults frequently experience multiple age-related health care needs, including the management of multiple chronic conditions, medication management, and coordination of care across multiple providers (Kojima et al., 2020). At present, the Catron County Commission on Aging in partnership with the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department is working to meet the increasing health care needs of the countys aging population (New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department, 2023). However, according to the survey report 100% Catron County Survey Report: Identifying Barriers to Vital Services, 2021, conducted by the Anna, Age Eight Institute (2021), respondents indicated some gaps in services for the elderly that still need to be addressed. These included a real need for hospice care and home nursing care in Catron County (p. 15) along with better access to healthcare overall (Anna, Age Eight Institute, 2021). 36% of respondents stated they could not find a nearby specialist, while another 36% cited distance as a barrier to care (Anna, Age Eight Institute, 2021).
By developing and implementing a telehealth program in Catron County, access to care could be greatly improved (Kobeissi & Hickey, 2023). Telehealth could also help to improve hospice and home care (Allen Watts et al., 2021). Telehealth is also noted as being a cost-effective way to address barriers to care (Zhang et al., 2023). Improving access to comprehensive primary care services through telehealth programs that are specifically tailored to the needs of older adults in a cost-effective fashion, health care programs in Catron County can help promote better health outcomes and quality of life for this population.
Desired Outcomes
Improve access: The new initiative will focus on leveraging telehealth technologies to provide elderly residents with better access to primary and specialized geriatric care. Through telehealth, patients will be able to consult with healthcare providers from the comfort of their homes, reducing the need for physical travel and making healthcare more accessible to those in remote areas. This approach is expected to be supported financially by Medicare, private insurance, and possibly state or local funding sources for individuals without adequate coverage (Allen Watts et al., 2021).
Care coordination: Enhancing care coordination for older adults in Catron County, especially those with multiple chronic conditions, is another critical outcome. Telehealth services will facilitate seamless communication and collaboration among different healthcare providers and patients (Talal et al., 2020). This virtual coordination can improve the management of care plans and medication, reduce the risk of hospital readmissions, and ensure a continuous care continuum (Fjellsa et al., 2022). The costs for these telehealth coordination efforts would likely be shared between Medicare, Medicaid (for those dually...
…telehealth technologies.Financial and Health Implications
Initially, the transition to telehealth services might necessitate investments in digital infrastructure, including secure software platforms for virtual consultations, training for healthcare providers in telehealth delivery, and patient education initiatives to ensure technology adoption and usability (Chang et al., 2021). While these upfront costs may seem substantial, they are anticipated to be significantly lower than the expenses associated with establishing physical geriatric clinics and hiring specialized staff.
Importantly, telehealth offers the potential to leverage federal and state funding sources dedicated to expanding digital health services, especially in rural areas (Curtis et al., 2022). The health benefits of a telehealth initiative could be transformative, enhancing access to specialized care for the elderly, improving the management of chronic conditions through regular monitoring, and facilitating immediate medical consultations, which collectively contribute to a reduction in hospitalizations and emergency room visits (Kojima et al., 2020). The adoption of telehealth services can also lead to long-term cost savings by optimizing resource allocation and preventing costly health complications (Kojima et al., 2020).
Conversely, the absence of such an initiative would do nothing to address current needs as identified by Anna, Age Eight Institute (2021). The failure to adopt telehealth solutions risks perpetuating the gaps in care coordination and preventive measures, with potential negative impacts on the health and well-being of Catron County's elderly population.
Conclusion
The shift toward an aging population necessitates innovative solutions to meet the unique healthcare needs of this demographic. With the proposal to implement a telehealth program, Catron County embarks on a path to significantly improve the accessibility and quality of healthcare services for its elderly residents. This approach is not only aligned with modern healthcare trends but also addresses the practical limitations of providing in-person care in rural settings. In drawing on the lessons learned from successful eldercare models in countries like…
References
Allen Watts, K., Malone, E., Dionne?Odom, J. N., McCammon, S., Currie, E., Hicks, J., ... &Bakitas, M. (2021). Can you hear me now?: Improving palliative care access through telehealth. Research in nursing & health, 44(1), 226-237. https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.22105Anna, Age Eight Institute. (2021). 100% Catron County Survey Report: Identifying Barriers toVital Services, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.100nm.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/AAEI_SurveyReport_Catron_2021_final.pdf
Chang, J. E., Lai, A. Y., Gupta, A., Nguyen, A. M., Berry, C. A., & Shelley, D. R. (2021). Rapidtransition to telehealth and the digital divide: implications for primary care access and equity in a post?COVID era. The Milbank Quarterly, 99(2), 340-368. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0009.12509Curtis, M. E., Clingan, S. E., Guo, H., Zhu, Y., Mooney, L. J., & Hser, Y. I. (2022). Disparitiesin digital access among American rural and urban households and implications for telemedicine?based services. The Journal of Rural Health, 38(3), 512-518. https://doi.org/10.1111/jrh.12614Dos Santos, A. D. F., Pacheco-López, A., Hidalgo, A. C. C., Urteaga, B. I. C., Marcillo, D. C.
A., López, E., ... & Rivadeneira, R. G. C. (2023). Telehealth Actions to Address COVID-19 in Latin American Countries. Telemedicine and e-Health, 29(11), 1650-1658. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2022.0432Fjellsa, H. M. H., Husebø, A. M. L., & Storm, M. (2022). eHealth in care coordination for olderadults living at home: scoping review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 24(10), e39584. https://doi.org/10.2196/39584
Grinin, L., Grinin, A., & Korotayev, A. (2021). Global trends and forecasts of the 21stcentury. World Futures, 77(5), 335-370. https://doi.org/10.1080/02604027.2021.1949939Kobeissi, M. M., & Hickey, J. V. (2023). An infrastructure to provide safer, higher-quality, andmore equitable telehealth. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 49(4), 213-222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjq.2023.01.006
Kojima, T., Mizokami, F., & Akishita, M. (2020). Geriatric management of older patients withmultimorbidity. Geriatrics & gerontology international, 20(12), 1105-1111. https://doi.org/10.1111/ggi.14065New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department. (2023). Retrieved from https://aging.nm.gov/news-events/news/aging-and-long-term-services-department-announces-new-program-for-home-care
Porter Starr, K. N., Miller, M. G., Mitchell, N. S., & Bales, C. W. (2023). Nutrition, Function,and Quality of Life in Older Adults Socially Isolated Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Focus on Telehealth Interventions. In Integrated Science of Global Epidemics (pp. 469-487). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17778-1_21
Talal, A. H., Sofikitou, E. M., Jaanimägi, U., Zeremski, M., Tobin, J. N., & Markatou, M.
(2020). A framework for patient-centered telemedicine: Application and lessons learned from vulnerable populations. Journal of biomedical informatics, 112, 103622. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbi.2020.103622
Yaghobian, S., Ohannessian, R., Duong, T. A., Medeiros de Bustos, E., Le Douarin, Y. M., &Moulin, T. (2022). France extends its tele-expertise funding model nationally after COVID-19. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 28(3), 233-235. https://doi.org/10.1177/1357633X211067067Zaman, S. B., Khan, R. K., Evans, R. G., Thrift, A. G., Maddison, R., & Islam, S. M. S. (2022).
Exploring barriers to and enablers of the adoption of information and communication technology for the care of older adults with chronic diseases: scoping review. JMIR aging, 5(1), e25251. https://doi.org/10.2196/25251
Zhang, Y., Leuk, J. S. P., & Teo, W. P. (2023). Domains, feasibility, effectiveness, cost, andacceptability of telehealth in aging care: scoping review of systematic reviews. JMIR aging, 6(1), e40460. https://doi.org/10.2196/40460
Telehealth and Home Monitoring Equipment This is a paper that outlines the features of telehealth products and how effective they are for the consultants and users. It has 15 sources. In contrast to the past when people could not be treated in time to prevent loss of life present-day planning has greatly influenced the fate of those in need and modifications have occurred in the way that health care is administered. Currently
TelehealthTelehealth has provided an innovative solution that helps healthcare professionals and patients overcome obstacles of time and space. From lowering costs to opening doors for more immediate care, telehealth is changing the way healthcare is received. Moreover this trend is only expected to continue and rise as more healthcare facilities around the world implement telehealth approaches. The reason for this trend is simple, and this paper will show what that
Nursing Informatics Project: Telehealth SystemPart 2ImplementationA: The Need for TrackingThis second part largely concerns itself with the tracking of project progress. It is important to note that this is a crucial undertaking in as far as the successful implementation of the project is concerned. Gunduz and Almuajebh (2020) make an observation to the effect that project tracking ought to be perceived as �the process of monitoring and measuring the progress
Nursing Informatics Project: Telehealth SystemPart 1IntroductionIn basic terms, nursing informatics, as the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society � HIMSS (2021) indicates, could be conceptualized as a �specialty that integrates nursing science with multiple information and analytical sciences to identify, define, manage, and communicate data, information, knowledge and wisdom in nursing practice.� Houston (2017) indicates that nursing informatics is of great relevance in efforts to improve or further enhance care
Reducing Nursing Turnover by Implementing Innovative E-Health: A New Strategy for Incentivizing Nurses and Improving Organizational Culture Problem Identification: Nursing turnover rates are a serious issue for hospitals: they are costly and result in lost time and energy in continuously training new staff (Twibell, 2012). Identifying the main reasons for nursing turnover and addressing them can lead to better nurse retention (Trivellas, Gerogiannis, Svarna, 2013). The problem of nurse retention has been identified
Healthcare Informatics: Tele-health technologies 1) Tele-health technologies represent a sub-division of healthcare information technology which aid in delivering long-distance health education, public health, clinical care, health administration and relevant information. They encompass hardware as well as software and enhance general system efficacy through the maximization of individual practitioner productivity and elimination of geographical care obstacles. Perhaps the most ideal use of tele-health technology is real-time interactions, where patients and practitioners located
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now