Health Policies Health Policies
In January 2022, the White House released a Request for Information on Strengthening Community Health Through Technology. This request is part of an initiative dedicated to community connected health — an effort that will explore and act upon how innovation in science and technology can lower the barriers to access quality healthcare and lead healthier lives by meeting people where they are in their communities.
Develop a 5-page policy brief addressing one of the areas in the RFI (e.g., successful models in the US, barriers, user experience, tools and training, etc.). Policy briefs should have the following components: title, executive summary, context or scope of problem, policy alternatives, policy recommendation, and recommended resources. Policy briefs may include graphs, charts, figures, or other visual aids. Technical requirements include using no less than 12-point font, cover page and references page not included in page limit, at least five APA references
Sample Solution
Title: Strengthening Community Health Through Technology
Executive Summary: This policy brief considers the potential of technology to strengthen community health. It outlines challenges and barriers, as well as successful models in the US, user experience, tools and training needed for effective implementation. The policy recommendation is that communities should develop comprehensive plans that integrate existing programs with technology-based initiatives in order to improve access to quality healthcare among underserved populations.
Context/Scope of Problem: According to a 2018 study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about one-third of US adults are living with at least one chronic disease. Moreover, rural areas suffer from disproportionately high rates of morbidity due to limited access to healthcare services and resources (Mukamel et al., 2018). Increasingly digital technologies such as mobile apps, websites or sensors have been proposed as tools that may help bridge this gap by providing remote monitoring capabilities, increasing ease-of-use for both providers and consumers alike (Liu & Wang 2019).
Policy Alternatives: To strengthen community health through technology there must be collaboration between stakeholders creating an environment conducive for innovation while also addressing any underlying social determinants contributing to poor health outcomes (Cheung et al., 2018). Stakeholders include but are not limited to public health officials , medical professionals , policy makers , industry leaders , consumer advocates and researchers . Policy alternatives can range from incentivizing private companies or start ups interested in developing innovative solutions or establishing new standards on data privacy within healthcare systems .
Policy Recommendation: Communities should develop comprehensive plans which take into consideration local resources as well as current technological trends when deciding how best leverage tech for community connected health initiatives (Hersh et al., 2020 ). These plans should build upon existing programs already implemented in their areas while fostering collaboration between stakeholders in order promote sustainable long term success.
