In the United States, health care patients are classified into varied categories. Medical research conducted across the country indicates that health care consumers are classified according to their ages, vulnerability of the disease, as well as in their native languages. In most cases, the elderly, children, chronic patients, and non-native Americans are considered vulnerable populations. On the other hand, the underserved health care consumers in America include individuals who have no familiarity with the system of care delivery along with those whose health care is limited. Thus, underserved populations are limited to accessing health care while vulnerable groups experience extra barriers to obtaining health care. Despite the global focus on establishing universal health care, vulnerable and underserved health consumers in the United States are experiencing challenges in accessing proper care which might require the attention of the country to solve their catastrophe.
Consumers viewed as vulnerable groups in health care are the elderly, children, the non-native Americans, and recurrently ill people. The children, elderly, immunocompromised and malnourished individuals in the situation of a catastrophe are highly suffered. Also, these individuals are the ones carry the widest share of the disease burden prompting from the emergencies. The leading contributors to the susceptibility of care of these populations are body strength, poverty and the penalties of these aspects which incorporate homelessness, destitution, malnutrition and poor housing (Xue & Intrator, 2016). According to the World Health Organization, children and the elderly are usually the populations considered to be at risk. These risk factors attributed to the increased probability of an individual developing an injury or a disease. The common instances of risk factors include persons with hypertension, those abusing alcohol, and consume tobacco products. Other examples include the populations living around unsafe water leading to minimal or lack of proper sanitation and hygiene, the underweight individuals, as well as persons who are prone to unsafe sex.
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The vulnerable usually have their needs addressed via the programs of Medicaid and Medicare. These programs are designed by the federal government in partnership with the state government as an insurance policy to upraise the care of the vulnerable groups. Also, the vulnerable groups who deemed to experience economic hardship are often assessed for eligibility of the insurance affordable programs such as APTC ("Serving Vulnerable and Underserved Populations", n.d.). Therefore, the government of the United States, through federal regulations, aids in the proper identification of the needy health care consumers and subsequently subsides their care expenses.
The health care professionals – physicians, nurses, and pharmacists – are instrumental in the delivery of health care for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. Physicians work out to attain the leading evidence-based care in a modern and influential manner to alleviate the struggles of this population. The nurses focus on rendering high-quality care directly to the vulnerable groups as well as facilitating self-management strategies. Finally, the pharmacists better the health needs for the vulnerable population through the preparation, formulation as well as delivery of the drug products. It is recommendable for the government to empower these practitioners to promote the accessibility of care.
Explicitly, the vulnerable health care consumers’ populations in America are dominated by the elderly and children. The attention of the government is highly recommended and necessary for the country to address the health challenges that engulf the vulnerable groups. It is recommendable for the government to help in stamping out poverty from its citizens to reduce the impact of the vulnerability of sick older people and children.
References
Xue, Y., & Intrator, O. (2016). Cultivating the role of nurse practitioners in providing primary care to vulnerable populations in an era of health-care reform. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice , 17 (1), 24-31.
Serving Vulnerable and Underserved Populations. Retrieved 14 January 2020, from https://marketplace.cms.gov/technical-assistance-resources/training-materials/vulnerable-and-underserved-populations.pdf#page=9&zoom=100,117,96
