The community health office is an important part of our communities. This office provides a point of contact for residents to communicate about a number of issues including disease prevention, wellness promotion, and quality of life counseling. These offices also work with partners to provide services such as wellness training and education, as well as referrals to local providers of medical services and support services for low and middle-income families. In this brief article, we’ll discuss some typical community health promotion activities.
One of the goals of community health promotion is to lower prescription costs for seniors, as well as provide access to primary care physician care. To achieve these goals, several activities are undertaken by the health promotion team at the local level. One of the most important is to ensure that every resident in the area has a current health insurance card. Another is to provide the necessary information and resources for consumers to request their free health reports, and check their status with the national Long-Term Care Insurance Information Center (LTCI). Many senior citizens do not receive regular preventive care screenings and checkups, and if they don’t have access to their physicians, the impact can be devastating on the progression of chronic diseases.
Another common practice at the community level is to offer financial assistance to low-income patients. For example, some communities sponsor in-home visit programs for senior citizens. Some communities provide free financial assistance to families who can show proof of having received immunization since childhood. Some communities sponsor “health savings accounts” for low-income patients, which allow them to make tax-free payments for medical expenses and prescription drugs, while they pay nothing for routine doctor visits. In addition to providing financial assistance, these programs may also help to cover emergency hospitalization costs for those with chronic conditions.
In general, senior citizens tend to be more likely to have their dental health examined, and therefore more likely to be prescribed treatment for tooth decay and cavities. Many communities offer financial assistance to low-income patients that allows them to choose a primary care physician who accepts Medicare or Medicaid. This primary care physician may then be asked to coordinate care with an oral health specialist.
The primary care physician may refer his or her patients to a lower cost provider, or he or she may participate in a health savings account.
- The most popular strategy for promoting community health care involves promoting affordable primary care physician engagement.
- A primary care physician serves as the primary source of medical advice for his or her patients.
- Most of the time, these doctors are family practitioners or pediatricians.
- However, community health care specialists such as cardiologists, orthopedists, and other advanced professionals may also serve as the primary caregiver for low-income patients, thereby creating a “fee for service” model where the service fee is borne by the patient.
In order to promote long-term health, we must promote preventative measures. These types of measures typically focus on the diet of the patient and their exercise routines. For instance, many seniors resort to taking diet pills to stave off hunger pangs, but the simple truth is that drugs do little to reduce the likelihood of heart disease or other chronic disease. To reduce the risk of developing heart disease, Americans need to follow a healthy diet and exercise program. Promoting healthy diet and exercise is a part of typical community health promotion efforts.
