This article presents a community assessment of Kent County, Michigan based on guidelines provided by Nies & McEwen i.e. 6 areas of assessment. This is followed by a brief discussion of my initial impressions of the area as a registered nurse and whether the existence of any bias in these impressions. The next section presents the current and potential issues that may impact the community's health. The last section provides lesson learned about Kent County's health and recommendations to community members as well as where and whom to present the suggestions.
Community Assessment of Kent County Health Needs:
Kent County is an area within Michigan State in the United States of America and part of the Grand Rapids -- Wyoming Metropolitan Statistical Area. In order to identify the County's most pressing priority health needs, this paper focuses on providing a community assessment on the unmet community health needs.
Community Vitality:
The assessment of community health and ensuring the availability of certain services for the residents of this area is a responsibility of the Kent County Health Department, which also ensures the provision of some core programs and planning and executing public education to enforce public health laws ("Health Department," n.d.).
The department also operates five public health clinics in the entire county to provide immunizations and the Women, Infants, and Children program.
It also examines causes of disease, morbidity and mortality, epidemics, and environmental health hazards.
Indicators of Social and Economic Conditions:
The first indicator of economic conditions in Kent County is the diverse and family-owned business and commerce in the region.
Secondly, colleges and universities in the area produce high quality, innovative, and motivated students who offer innovation and new technologies for the future ("Community Triple Bottom Line," 2008).
The indicators of social conditions include the existence of caring and supportive agencies and organizations that contribute to the community's benefit. Moreover, the area has low crime rates, less poverty, decreased homelessness, and reduced racial tension because of partnerships by various community stakeholders to support initiatives that are geared towards public safety.
Health Resources:
Health resources in the community are mainly provided by the five clinics operated by the Kent County Health Department. These public health clinics provide immunizations and conduct several health care programs for community members.
However, access to healthcare is relatively difficult for community members because of challenges like provider availability, location, and transportation among others.
Environment Condition Related to Health:
The area has a relatively poor air quality because of fine particulate matter and ozone, which places the entire population at risk. The county also has a higher diagnosis rate of food-borne disease and relatively healthy water quality.
Social Functioning:
The area has a higher percentage of adult population that is obese as compared to similar counties and National Benchmark.
Secondly, it has a similar percentage of physically inactive adult population though most of its residents are likely to be physically inactive as compared to Michigan residents (2011 Community Health Needs Assessment," n.d.).
Attitude toward Health and Healthcare:
Community members have a seemingly negative attitude toward health and healthcare because of difficulties in accessing care services and disparities in access to healthcare.
In addition, their attitude towards health is largely affected by the negative environmental conditions related to health in the area.
Initial Impressions Regarding Kent County:
As a registered nurse, my initial impression regarding Kent County is that the area contains a fairly poor health care system and ever-growing health related problems. The impressions were not informed by personal bias but by information I have heard about the area and its geographical location.
Issues that May Affect Kent County's Health:
The below par access to health food, violent crime, and recreational facilities as required by national benchmarks.
Lack of health insurance to a huge portion of the population and dissatisfaction with life.
The existing disparities in access to health care services and barriers to health care access.
The poor environmental conditions related to health.
The problem of flooding, which poses significant risks to some well water supplies.
The likelihood of contaminants like chemicals and bacteria to enter water supply (Stelma, 2013).
Lessons Learned and Recommendations to Community Members:
Kent County has a seemingly poor health care system because of some factors including the geographical location of the area and environmental conditions related to health. The other factors in the county's health status are the existing disparities in access to care services and barriers to health access.
Community members should form partnerships that bring them together to develop conditions that promote good health ("Healthy Kent 2000 Progress Report," n.d.).
Community members should recognize and accept mutual responsibility for the county's health.
Members of the community should carry out initiatives and programs that address common priorities related to health such as preventing risk-increasing behaviors at the community level.
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