Introduction
DeSoto County is one of Florida’s leading healthcare districts. These annual reports suggest that mortality rates and other health determinants are above the statewide average. However, several areas require special attention and additional work, as many show negative trends. The most problematic areas for the county are cardiovascular deaths, high suicide rates, and the lack of positive movement in the treatment of cancers.
Identifying Pressing Issues Within the Community
Cardiology
It should be noted that, based on annual reports, the county government is developing several programs to improve the population’s health. Nevertheless, the measures the municipality took are insufficient, as seen in some indicators. Cardiologists take many preventive measures in the county’s treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, the number of deaths from various types of attacks and heart attacks has increased significantly over the past three years and has exceeded the Florida average.
Suicides
As for suicide rates, the lack of a positive trend is a problem that they have been trying to solve for several years. Before 2017, the county had no mental health and support centers but a multifunctional rehabilitation facility (Archerindustries, 2023). However, experience has shown that the opening of these institutions is necessary because the most frequent causes of suicide are depression and other psychological disorders. The suicide rates in the county are higher than the state average (2020 County Health Rankings Key Findings Report, n.d.). It means that more help is needed for people with various mental disorders.
Oncology
Cancer treatment is another important public health issue in the country. The death rate from this disease ranks second after cardiovascular diseases. It should be noted, however, that over the past eight years, there have been several initiatives to increase the life expectancy of patients diagnosed with this type of cancer. The situation has improved for certain types of cancer, but overall, from 2015 to 2023, the situation has not improved significantly (Florida Department of Health in Desoto, n.d.).
An essential feature of the statistics is that in all cases, the mortality rate for Black people exceeds that for white people (Florida Department of Health in Desoto, n.d.). This trend has occurred for many years and requires special attention from the Ministry of Health. In general, it can be noted that all three of these problems are related to the fact that over the years, mortality rates for specific diagnoses have remained higher than the same rates for the entire state of Florida.
Proposed Solutions to Address Community Challenges
Raising Awareness
On this basis, we can formulate the following recommendation, which, if properly justified, can be implemented by the municipal authorities. Firstly, it is necessary to raise awareness among society and, in particular, the employees of the healthcare system about the current unfavorable statistics. It is essential that the specialists in each area in which there is a high mortality rate are aware that the county’s rates exceed the state’s value. There should be a greater general level of concern about the prevalence and lack of effectiveness in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and mental illness. Moreover, in existing departments and centers, it is necessary to review the staff’s effectiveness and conduct professional tests to identify unsuitable people.
Educating Population
An important measure in solving the healthcare problems in this district is to raise the population’s literacy level. It is necessary to engage in the popularization of healthy lifestyles, as well as measures to prevent cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Open seminars and lectures can be offered to all residents wishing to learn more about improving their quality of life and health.
As for the sphere of psychiatry and psychological help to the population, given the high rates of mortality from suicide, it is necessary to activate the hotline working for all residents of the district. It is necessary to disseminate information about this service among the population. The municipality should provide residents with the opportunity to visit a free therapist for several sessions since, very often, the reason for suicide is the inability of the person to discuss their problems with a professional due to a lack of money.
Supporting Research
Finally, it is necessary to define the main directions for scientific research in health issues in the long term. An analysis of the county’s reports showed that the issue of racial disparities in mortality rates for individual illnesses, in general, had not been sufficiently studied. Moreover, it is necessary to conduct economic research with my father to develop strategies for obtaining additional funding for cardiology and oncology reforms.
Conclusion
Thus, positive changes can be expected when the problems mentioned above are solved in a two-way process. The proposed measures include the group of health care professionals and the population since it is the most effective joint effort. The three problems outlined above express the general trend that most diagnoses that cause death are reversible and treatable.
This phenomenon is particularly evident in cardiology and psychiatry, where patients have not been able to receive timely or sufficiently qualified assistance. In oncology, it should be noted that the problem of lethal outcomes is often associated with limited access of patients to the most advanced technologies of treatment. The primary methods to improve the situation and the level of health of the population in DeSoto County are research and education, as well as the organization of control and certification of medical professionals.
References
Archerindustries. (2023). Services. DeSoto Health & Rehab. Web.
Florida Department of Health in Desoto. (n.d.). Desoto.floridahealth.gov. Web.
2020 County health rankings key findings Report. (2020). County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. Web.