scholarly journals Commentary: The Problems of Grouping All Adversity Into a Special Populations Label

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-70
Author(s):  
Steve Sussman ◽  
Shanna K. Kattari ◽  
Lourdes Baezconde-Garbanati ◽  
Shane N. Glackin

“Special populations” refer to groups of people whose needs are not fully addressed by traditional health services delivery. Greater access to these services, or tailored services, must be provided to reduce inequities in physical and mental health-care systems. Many different groups have been identified as special populations. We comment on controversies regarding the use of the term special populations in health practice and policy. Applicable conceptual issues include intersectionality, unitization, definitional drawbacks, and looping effects. There is a need to make clear the challenges posed by use of this term (e.g., discrimination, workability). An approach that acknowledges the diversity of groups and accommodates them where necessary without discrimination and unequal treatment is needed.

1992 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 513-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. K. Sundari

This article attempts to put together evidence from maternal mortality studies in developing countries of how an inadequate health care system characterized by misplaced priorities contributes to high maternal mortality rates. Inaccessibility of essential health information to the women most affected, and the physical as well as economic and sociocultural distance separating health services from the vast majority of women, are only part of the problem. Even when the woman reaches a health facility, there are a number of obstacles to her receiving adequate and appropriate care. These are a result of failures in the health services delivery system: the lack of minimal life-saving equipment at the first referral level; the lack of equipment, personnel, and know-how even in referral hospitals; and worst of all, faulty patient management. Prevention of maternal deaths requires fundamental changes not only in resource allocation, but in the very structures of health services delivery. These will have to be fought for as part of a wider struggle for equity and social justice.


2017 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilip Balu

The author's clinical experience with the Child Protection and Mental Health Care systems informs this brief practice-focused paper. The author posits that Secondary Traumatic Stress and Vicarious Trauma are central to understanding the impact of relationally traumatic material and the experience of individuals, families, team and the wider ecology of care systems. In particular, the author hypothesises that the tendency of systems to become fragmented in operation, with silos of sub-parts working parallel to each other, may be a natural adaptation to the ways in which traumatic experience ripples across system boundaries. This ‘ripple effect’ may lead to increasing emotional and relational reactivity, and survival-oriented inward focus of energies and efforts. The metaphor of the brain and nervous system is used to explore ideas of connection and integration in care systems. Trauma-informed leadership by individuals and teams is also touched upon in relation to reducing fear-driven clinical practice.


2005 ◽  
Vol 44 (02) ◽  
pp. 273-277
Author(s):  
D. M. Lawrence

Summary Purpose: To compare organized and traditional health care delivery systems and their ability to meet several major challenges facing health care in the next 25 years. Approach: Analysis of traditional and organized health care systems based on a career spent in organized health care systems. Conclusions: The traditional health care system based on independent autonomous physicians is not able to meet the challenges of current healthcare. Stronger integration and coordination, i.e., organized health care delivery systems are required.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S553-S553
Author(s):  
Martha R Crowther ◽  
Cassandra D Ford

Abstract Rural elders are one of the most at-risk populations for experiencing physical and mental health problems. In many rural communities, there are no psychosocial services available to meet the needs of the rural elderly. To provide rural older adults with integrated healthcare, we build upon our existing community-based infrastructure that has fostered community capacity for active engagement in clinical activities and has served as a catalyst to increase participation of rural older adults in clinical services. Our rural community model draws upon the role of culture in promoting health among rural older adults to provide rural service delivery. This model is built upon our network of partnerships with surrounding communities, including potential research participants, community-based organizations, community leaders, and community health-care systems and providers. By engaging the community we can create a sustainable system that will encourage rural older adults to utilize the health care system at a higher rate.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document