Learning outcome reflection and assessment practices

Learning Outcome Reflection

Learning Objectives

The first of the two program learning objectives that I believe I have mastered during my tenure at Walden University is No. 3, which specifically states "Analyze social, political, and economic issues, which impact public health and healthcare delivery systems within and outside of the United States." There are a couple of ways that I believe that I met this program learning outcome. The first is due to the time in which I studied the Affordable Care Act, which truly took effect in the United States in 2014. I took several classes that focused on this particular act and the transformation to the health care system it has produced domestically. What was exciting about my studying of this particular act is that while I was studying it, various aspects of it were in the process of being implemented. In January of this year citizens were able to get health care with federal tax subsidies from the government.

The issues that really resulted in the passing of this act was the fact that socially, certain people in the medical industry felt it is better to spend money on preventive care as opposed to doing so on more costly treatments. Moreover, individuals were able to get significantly greater access to medical care because of this act and its economic benefits. Politically, it greatly polarized the country, especially since the insurance industry claims it must raise the rates of those who are not accessing federally subsidized health care in order to pay for the costs of those that are. I have written several papers that attest to many of these facts, as well as which explored the fact that in numerous places overseas -- such as in Europe or even Canada -- universal healthcare is mandated by the government and includes everyone. These places inspired some of the thinking behind the Affordable Care Act. Meeting this learning outcome will help me in my work in public health because I now know the most salient factors affecting the creation and implementation of public health policy.

The second learning outcome that I believe my experience at Walden enabled me to master is No. 2, which states: "Critically examine the role of public health in protecting and promoting the health of populations locally and globally." I was able to meet this objective in a variety of ways, one of which included examining various principles, policies, and research implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO). In many ways, the work done at WHO is exemplary of the types of efforts that public health programs should attempt to make. Also, it is significant to note that although WHO is global in nature, it also focuses on public health issues at a local level -- particularly when it comes time to implementing various measures of its policies.