Comparisons of Health System Characteristics and Outcomes, Part I

Comparison of State and National Data

Note: Before completing this Discussion, please familiarize yourself with the Week 5 Discussion Rubric located in the Course Information area of the course navigation menu.

Cassandra’s father has recently been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Although she already knows that diabetes is a major health problem in the United States, she is surprised to discover that it is one of the leading causes of death. As she researches diabetes, she is even more surprised to learn that the prevalence of diabetes is significantly higher in the state of Tennessee, where she and her family live, than in most other states. Although the data she looks at sometimes vary depending on the source, comparing data from her state with national data gives her a better understanding of the impact of this disease. As Cassandra examines genetic, lifestyle, and environmental risk factors for the disease, she uncovers compelling distinctions between Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes that heighten her interest in addressing this health problem through her work as a health care administrator and as an advocate for improving health outcomes, not only for her father, but also for others who suffer from complications of Type 2 diabetes.

In this Discussion, you will research one of the leading causes of death in the United States, comparing data from your state with national data and examining risk factors associated with the health problem.

To prepare for this Discussion, examine the leading causes of death in the United States using the following websites from this week’s Learning Resources:

·         CDC: Leading Causes of Death

·         Medical News Today: What Are the Top 10 Leading Causes of Death in the US?

Select one leading cause of death on which to focus for this Discussion.

Using credible websites, research how your state’s data compare to national data related to this health condition. For example, you may search for information on the following websites, found in this week’s Learning Resources:

·         Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

·         United Health Foundation: America’s Health Rankings

·         Trust for America’s Health

·         Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Ensure that you examine comparable data from reliable sources. For instance, look at state and national prevalence rates from the same year and, ideally, from the same source.

Review the information on determinants of health (also referred to as risk factors) presented in Chapter 2 of the Shi and Singh (2015) textbook. In addition, conduct research using the Walden library and credible websites to identify and analyze the causes of your selected health problem and associated lifestyle, genetic, and environmental risk factors.

If you are an international student, you may research a leading cause of death in your country and compare data from your local community with national data.

Post by Day 3 a substantive and cohesive response to the following:

·         Describe one of the leading causes of death.

·         Compare your state’s (Georgia) data with national data related to this health problem. Identify your sources of data.

·         Describe the causes of this health problem and associated lifestyle, genetic, and environmental risk factors/determinants.

General Guidance on Discussion Posts: Your original post, due by Day 3, will typically be 3–4 paragraphs in length (not including references) as a general expectation/estimate. Refer to the Week 5 Discussion Rubric for grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use the rubric to assess your work.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

Respond by Day 5 to at least two of your colleagues’ postings, evaluating how the analysis informs your understanding of death and disease and its impact on health care delivery in various locations.

General Guidance on Discussion Responses: Your Discussion responses, due by Day 5, will each typically be 1–2 paragraphs in length as a general expectation/estimate. Refer to the Week 5 Discussion Rubric for grading elements and criteria. Your Instructor will use the rubric to assess your work.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of reading the comments your colleagues made.

Required Resources

Readings

·         Shi, L., & Singh, D. (2015). Delivering health care in America: A systems approach (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett.

o    Review Chapter 1, “An Overview of US Health Care Delivery” (pp. 20–28)

o    Chapter 2, “Beliefs, Values, and Health” (pp. 52–73)

o    Review Chapter 13, “Health Policy” (pp. 510–531)

o    Chapter 14, “The Future of Health Services Delivery” (pp. 557–558)

Use the following websites to prepare for the Discussion:

·         Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov

·         Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2013). Leading causes of death. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/leading-causes-of-death.htm

·         Medical News Today. (2014). What are the top 10 leading causes of death in the US? Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/282929.php

·         Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2014). RWJF datahub. Retrieved from http://www.rwjf.org/en/how-we-work/rel/research-features/rwjf-datahub.html

·         Trust for America’s Health. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://healthyamericans.org/

·         United Health Foundation. (2014). America’s health rankings. Retrieved from http://www.americashealthrankings.org

Optional Resources

·         Central Intelligence Agency. (2014). The world factbook. Retrieved from https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/

·         The Commonwealth Fund. (2013). International profiles of health care systems, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/files/publications/fund-report/2013/nov/1717_thomson_intl_profiles_hlt_care_sys_2013_v2.pdf

·         The Commonwealth Fund. (2015). Country comparison. Retrieved from http://www.commonwealthfund.org/interactives-and-data/us-compare-interactive#?ind=4&compare=CAN

·         The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. (n.d.). Global health policy. Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://globalhealth.kff.org/

·         Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved March 27, 2015, from http://www.gatesfoundation.org/