According to latest reports and surveys in Miami Dade- Florida, the top four health issues and priorities of the health department include access to care, chronic disease and prevention, health care disparities, and primary care and medical homes. When talking about the access to care of individuals from Miami-Dade County, it was revealed that approximately 42% of individuals aging 18-64 have not been provided with healthcare coverage as compared to the nationwide coverage of 19%. This is connected with the issues of Healthy People 2020 which aim to provide 100% health insurance rate for adults (Florida Department of Health, Miami-Dade County, 2015; Health Council of South Florida, 2013; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015; Healthy People, 2016).
For the second issue which focuses on addressing chronic disease and prevention, survey results showed that the number of deaths due to heart disease, diabetes, and stroke are 156.9 per 100,000 individuals, 19.7 per 100,000 individuals, and 28.8 per 100,000 individuals respectively. Moreover, it has been estimated that 8.7% of live births have low birth weights. Also, the percentage of elderly patients aged 50 years old and above who received colorectal cancer screen was 10.6% while the percentage of women aged 18 years old and above who has a Pap during the past year was 56.9%. Lastly, the percentage of women aged 40 years old and above who underwent mammogram during the past two years was estimated to be 64.2%. When compared with the Health People 2020 Goal, only the goal for diabetes deaths and stroke deaths were achieved. The Health People 2020 Goal for heart disease deaths, diabetes deaths, stroke deaths, low birth weight infants, individuals aged 50+ who received colorectal cancer screen, women aged 18+ who had a Pap in the past year, and women aged 40+ who underwent mammogram in the past 2 years were 100.8 per 100,000, 65.8 per 100,000, 33.8 per 100,000, 7.8% of live births, 70.5%, 93.0%, and 81.1% respectively (Health Council of South Florida, 2013; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015; Healthy People, 2016).
For the third priority which is to decrease the disparity in health care, it has been revealed that the Black/African Americans in the county obtained 166.2 per 100,000 deaths due to heart disease, 33.6 per 100,000 deaths due to diabetes, 41.6 per 100,000 deaths due to stroke, 12.9% of live births with low birth weight, and 32.6% of women aged 18 years old and above who had Pap during the past year. Of these indicators, only the diabetes deaths reached the Health People 2020 Goal. The Healthy People 2020 Goal for these indicators are 100.8 per 100,000 heart disease deaths, 65.8 per 100,000 diabetes deaths, 33.8 per 100,000 stroke deaths, 7.8% of live births with low birth weight, and 93% of 18+ women who had Pap. in the past year (Health Council of South Florida, 2013; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015; Healthy People, 2016).
The last concern is the availability of primary care and medical homes in the county. It has been estimated that about 78.4% of the adults residing in Miami-Dade County in 2010 had an ongoing source of care. This is also a relevant issue in the Healthy People 2020 Goal where adults with an ongoing source of care has been aimed to be 89.4% (Health Council of South Florida, 2013; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015; Healthy People, 2016).
These health issues are similar from the national issues because they are usually the main priorities and concerns globally. One of the health issues is prevention of diseases and chronic diseases which includes activities such as provision of vaccination to young children, adults, and the elderly. Thus, my project has been based one of these issues specifically on the lack of vaccination on elderly Hispanic population.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015). Healthy People 2020. Healthy People. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/healthy_people/hp2020.htm [Accessed on 24 Feb 2016].
Florida Department of Health, Miami Dade-County. (2015). Miami-Dade County Community Health Improvement Plan 2013-2018. Florida Health. Retrieved from http://miamidade.floridahealth.gov/about-us/_documents/chip-010715-new.pdf [Accessed on 23 Feb 2016].
Health Council of South Florida. (2013). Miami-Dade County Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships: 2013-2014 Community Health Priorities, Goals & Strategies. Health Council of South Florida. Retrieved from http://www.floridahealth.gov/provider-and-partner-resources/community-partnerships/floridamapp/state-and-community-reports/miami-dade-county/_documents/miami-dade-cha.pdf [Accessed on 23 Feb 2016].
Healthy People. (2016). About Healthy People. HealthyPeople.gov. Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/About-Healthy-People [Accessed on 24 Feb 2016].
