NR 511 Week 5 Discussion & Responses; Preventative Care Screenings

procedure performed. This reminder process enables the staff to provide equal preventative and screening care for all clients despite their differences or vulnerabilities within the population and has proven to be effective in increasing clients that accept preventative screening measures. The provider addresses health literacy and the National Standards for Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Health and Health Care to aid in eliminating health care discrepancies through several processes (U.S. Department of HHS and Office of Minority Health, n.d.). Some examples include the use of a language line for patients that do not speak or understand English, asking the patients to repeat back what they were told, providing paper copies or other resources for patients to enhance understanding on their diagnoses, and allowing clients to aid in making decisions for their health. The primary care location sees vulnerable client populations including individuals that have insurance, that have Medicare, Medicaid, and those that do not have insurance at all and/or are homeless. Clients without insurance often pay on a sliding scale or do not pay anything to be seen and will never receive a bill depending on their overall situation. At each visit, clients are provided with a list of preventative screening recommendations for their age/gender/status. Client’s that are homeless, or are not seen on a regular basis, are presented with several opportunities to receive different types of screening measures prior to leaving the office. For example, a client will be sent home with a FIT test that can be brought back at their earliest convenience instead of having to return at another date for the test. Also, women that qualify for assistance are given information on free breast cancer screening clinics which take place in the area two times each year. Clients that are less likely to return when recommended can also have their annual blood work, pap smears, and other measures combined within one visit. This practice already has several interventions in place for clients to receive preventative care including federal and state funding and free screening clinics for different types of medical care. However, with most clients not having insurance expensive procedures like colonoscopies are almost always denied. A way the clinic can add to the methods they already have in place is to provide educational handouts or videos that break down the importance of preventative care and the options available. At the clinic, I see the provider print handouts out describing what disease or infection that they have been diagnosed with, but I have not seen materials being given to patients explaining the importance of preventative care. Also, the clinic could hang informational flyers on the walls directly in front of where they sit in each room so while waiting for the provider they can read about preventative care and options available to them. One way to increase the frequency of preventative screenings within vulnerable populations would be to place flyers throughout the town in public places like in Wal-Mart or in gas stations. These