Introduction
Recently, challenges have emerged in the medical industry concerning the deficit of certain hospital workers. In order to solve these problems, state policy in the field of health care is aimed at enhancing the level of health and improving the quality of life of citizens. The HPSA indicator was introduced at the national level to identify areas requiring additional qualified staffing. At the same time, there is also the MUA/P score, which determines the population with inadequate health care coverage (Michigan Primary Care Association, n.d.). Therefore, a strategic improvement plan should be created for Preston County, West Virginia.
HPSA and MUA/Ps
It is significant to notice that HPSA and MUA/P are indicators referring to the territories, populations, and healthcare facilities that are part of the U.S. healthcare system. At the same time, there are criteria by which the adequacy or deficiency of staffing or resources in health care facilities is assessed (MPCA, n.d.). The fundamental objective of these definitions is to identify the primary areas that need to be addressed to provide appropriate care for patients. A mechanism to accumulate resources to the correct region and extent works according to the priority of need (MPCA, n.d.). This allows hospitals in a particular region to quickly resolve problems with inadequate resources and improve the situation.
Moreover, a specific population or institution with an HPSA or MUA/P designation is engaged in special programs in order to maintain and increase the level of care independently in the long term (MPCA, n.d.). This is accomplished through a system of planned recruitment and ongoing medical provider recruitment. There are national programs, such as the Nursing Corps or Medicare Incentive Payment Programs, available to help states implement programs (Ginter et al., 2018). They are designed to create a pool of highly qualified workers and attract them according to priority needs in certain regions. Additionally, the Medicare program provides coverage for services for specific populations, which enables the accumulation of a resource and ensures the continued solvency of facilities (Ginter et al., 2018). Thus, the HPSA and MUA/P indicators should be used to identify the potential population and hospital problems in a particular region and resolve the problems proactively.
The Situation in Preston County
The demographics of the County indicate that the state has an aging population in need of special health care. According to the MUA/P, Preston County’s population in 2020 was 34,699, with a -0.09% decline rate lower than the statewide figure of -0.75% (Preston Memorial Hospital, n.d.). However, authorities in West Virginia conducted research and found that the average age of the population in the County was 43 years old. Individuals above the age of 65 in the County are nearly 20 percent, which is higher than the U.S. average (Preston Memorial Hospital, n.d.). Therefore, the HPSA primary care ratio should be at least 3,500:1 for a geographic destination (1,270 in Preston County) (Figure 1). The proportion for dental care should be at least 5,000:1 for geographic purposes (1860 to in Preston County). The provision of basic services aimed at improving psychological health is 6,000:1 for primary mental health providers, compared to 830 to 1 in Preston County (MPCA, n.d.). The HPSA-guided designations are needed to identify existing deficits in Preston County, West Virginia.
It should be highlighted that due to the expansion of Covid-19, there was a problem with the number of medical staff, and a shortage of primary care physicians was determined. In addition, it confirmed the problem with providing psychological care to people who had been at home for long periods of time (Preston Memorial Hospital, n.d.). The County did not have enough specialists to reach the entire population. At the same time, the most significant problem in the district was dental treatment admissions.
Figure 1: Statistics
The Improvement Plan
In order to provide satisfactory service to the population, the theory of rational service should be applied. According to this concept, it is advisable to have hospitals and care facilities within 30 minutes of each other (MPCA, n.d.). In case there will also be a shortage of resources at Preston Memorial Hospital, workers or units from nearby hospitals can be attracted. For this purpose, agreements should be reached which regulate such substitutions formally (MPCA, n.d.). For example, facilities such as Greater Lancashire Hospital and Mount Street Hospital can work together to respond quickly to patient needs. In order to enhance patient care in primary care benefits, it is essential to first focus on chronic lung disease because it is the leading cause of death for people in Preston County (Ginter et al., 2018). Accordingly, Cardiac Rehab and Pulmonary Rehab Center should be developed to accrue additional staff to help patients.
The Grace Ann Dorney Foundation can be partnered with the Grace Ann Dorney Foundation to address the medical supply of the apparatus and devices. Specialists from the Local Preston County Primary Care Offices can also be enlisted as needed (Ginter et al., 2018). In this way, it is expected that patients will have more access to chronic lung disease treatment, decreasing the county’s mortality statistics.
Another critical disease in the County is diabetes, which is why it is essential to expand the medical supply for therapy. Thirteen and a half % of Preston residents have diabetes, and hospitals do not have enough specialists to provide treatment (Barker, 2021). To reduce the risk of disease, the county’s hospitals should provide educational training for residents. Hospitals can invite students from the West Virginia University School of Medicine to explain the dangers of the disease to the community (Barker, 2021). This would allow hospitals in the County to use physicians for treatment and students to gain experience.
Private investors and government sponsors can support the creation of a fund for hospitals to provide mental health care to patients. This would help hospitals collaborate with community health promotion services. That way, more professionals can organize groups to provide for the needs of the County. For example, subspecialty physicians who deal with substance abuse problems, the onset of stress, or the development of other psychological conditions will be involved in treating patients who come to the County’s hospitals (Ginter et al., 2018). In addition, to effectively rehabilitate patients with psychological needs, a special place should be provided for them. They can be organized at hospitals with funds allocated by foundations. In this way, such a strategy will be especially effective even during another Covid-19 episode because specialists will be capable of assisting even remotely.
An anonymous site should be created to reduce the number of people in the last stages of mental saving or killing themselves. State authorities can provide funds to hire employees and purchase equipment for the productive operation of the site. Accordingly, everyone would be able to leave complaints and descriptions of their feelings. Then, doctors would provide them with narratives, and psychologists would recommend ways to solve problems (Ginter et al., 2018). This practice will reduce the number of cases that need to be treated in the hospital; accordingly, there will be less workload on experts.
Another indicator of the HPSA in Preston County, West Virginia, requires improved dental care services. One common problem in all health care facilities is an insufficient number of specialists who can serve the population. In order to ensure that the problem is solved quickly, it is essential that hospitals contact the U.S. Congress regarding this problem (Ginter et al., 2018). The administration could propose that the government provide increased payments to dentists under the government’s Medicare health insurance program. In this way, it would help encourage people to enter medical schools to become dentists (Barker, 2021). As a consequence, the number of dental graduates who will also work in Preston County hospitals will expand. In the short term, additional funding and private investment can be raised for better social security and employee benefits. Accordingly, this will encourage individuals to be hired in the County and solve the issue of insufficient staffing.
Conclusion
The HPSA and MUA/Ps scores are needed to identify the significant problems in health care in a particular area. In Preston County, West Virginia, there is a demand for primary care, dental, and mental health improvement. In order to address the challenges in the county’s hospitals, additional funds need to be accumulated through private investment and public supplemental funding. Further, supplemental Medicare programs and extra funding for subspecialists will encourage the development of the community. Creating a website to help people who need counseling with psychologists would enhance the schedules of doctors treating patients in hospitals. That way, they can pay more attention to patients who need urgent intervention. Indeed, cooperation with medical colleges and foundations will solve critical issues with preparations, treatment devices, and medical personnel.
References
Barker, K. (2021). Review of: Appalachians for Medicaid website. Journal of Appalachian Health, 3(3), 120.
Ginter, P. M., Duncan, W. J., & Swayne, L. E. (2018). The strategic management of health care organizations. John Wiley & Sons.
Michigan Primary Care Association. (n.d.). Health professional shortage area (HPSA) designation.
Preston Memorial Hospital. (n.d.). For medical providers.