M3.2 Vulnerable Populations
Dr. Rishi Manchanda begins his lecture discussing the idea of addressing problems before illnesses begin - particularly through environmental changes. The alarming story Dr. Manchanda brings up of a patient named "Veronica", acknowledges a few issues including housing and work conditions, among others - all related to quality of health. He also brings up issues that many practitioners fail to acknowledge in initial patient intakes, often due to the uncomfortableness of bringing up issues such as financial, educational and racial disparities. This isn't necessarily a problem solely with practitioners, the healthcare system as a whole. The idea of zip codes affecting health more than genetic code is an alarming concept. This brings to light social disparities that as we know greatly affects health, but how it can be changed is a whole different issue. If we utilize Manchanda's approach of creating more "upstreamist", addressing issues before they progress to a point of sickness or illnesses, the idea is that our healthcare system can improve and focus on diseases not caused by the environment.
Furthermore, the upstreamist concept trickles down to issues mentioned in the next two videos for effects on reproduction and the neonatal/pediatric population. By continuing to allow our environment to negatively impact community health, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, it also affects the neurological development of the neonatal population. The risk of children diagnosed with autism will rise to 1 in 69 children, according to the CDC. This not only perpetuates the poverty cycle within certain families, cultures and neighborhoods, but also continues to have a great economic burden amongst these vulnerable populations. Often times it's easier for campaigns to be made to have more active lifestyles or improve to healthier diets because these are effects more quickly and easily seen to the naked eye. However, addressing environmental exposures such as chemicals and pollution are more difficult due to the difficulty in producing effective policy changes and slower results.
Furthermore, the upstreamist concept trickles down to issues mentioned in the next two videos for effects on reproduction and the neonatal/pediatric population. By continuing to allow our environment to negatively impact community health, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, it also affects the neurological development of the neonatal population. The risk of children diagnosed with autism will rise to 1 in 69 children, according to the CDC. This not only perpetuates the poverty cycle within certain families, cultures and neighborhoods, but also continues to have a great economic burden amongst these vulnerable populations. Often times it's easier for campaigns to be made to have more active lifestyles or improve to healthier diets because these are effects more quickly and easily seen to the naked eye. However, addressing environmental exposures such as chemicals and pollution are more difficult due to the difficulty in producing effective policy changes and slower results.
I would argue that the economic burden does not just fall on the vulnerable populations. Immediately, yes. But after time, if the economic gap continues to widen, the more advantaged group will feel the effects of the care disparities as resource scarcity rises.
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