Case Studies
Regardless of the type of healthcare system available, one recurrent issue is access to healthcare for underserved populations. For this discussion, underserved populations include minority and immigrant groups, pediatric population and women. These groups of people are consistently underserved worldwide in healthcare. As previously studied in modules 1 & 2, we learned that according the ANA, the nurse must care for people regardless of social, economic status or nature of health problem. Also, the nurse must promote efforts to meet local and national healthcare needs. Serving the underserved population is the duty of the nurse. Read the following three case studies and respond accordingly.
Case Study 1: Roma is a single mother of four children, living as an illegal immigrant in Nevada. She migrated from Central America to the United States four years ago. Currently, Roma cleans houses to make money. Her children range in age from 14 to 4. Roma speaks broken English, but her 14-year-old son speaks fluent English. Roma does not have health insurance. There is a free health clinic in Roma's community that has helped her and her children in times of illness. Recently, Roma has been severely fatigued, suffering from unexplained back pain, shortness of breath, migraine headaches and stomach pain. The free clinic has prescribed antibiotics, but there is no sign of improvement. The medical doctor at the clinic would like Roma to go to the local hospital for further testing. Roma refused a visit to the hospital for fear of immigration laws and no familial support to care for her children.
Case Study 2: Maria is a 32-year-old woman with 2 healthy children, and has recently displaced from her apartment due to lack of payment. Maria has a complex medical history of HIV, contracted in utero. Maria has always had a difficult time holding down a job due to poorly-managed viral loads and illnesses related to the HIV. Maria is non-compliant with her medicine, but states that her non-compliance is due to lack of resources. Maria and her children are now homeless. They have been staying at their local homeless shelter. The children are due to register for kindergarten, however have not had any documented immunizations, visits to a pediatrician or a dentist, which are all requirements for admission to the local elementary school. Maria is embarrassed of their situation and has decided not to enroll the children in school.
Case Study 3: Peter is a 15-year-old boy who had undergone a heart transplant when eight years old. Peter is currently in massive organ rejection related to non-compliance with rejection medication. Peter has a history of recurrent rejection related to non-compliance. Peter's father works three factory jobs to make ends meet, is rarely home and speaks no English. Peter speaks English and admits to not appropriately taking his medication due to both choice and financial issues. Peter's rejection is irreversible and Peter will need another heart transplant to survive. Because of Peter's history of non-compliance, he is no longer a candidate for organ transplantation. Peter's father does not understand and Peter is angry.
Journal Reflection #6:
Discuss how these examples show how a person from an underserved population has limited access to healthcare. What would you do to help an underserved person access healthcare on a personal level, professional level and national level? (500 words)
https://player.vimeo.com/video/122691406
Why is patient advocacy important? (500 words).