FPX6026 Assessment 3
Letter to the Editor: Population Health Policy Advocacy
Name
School of Nursing and Health Sciences, Capella University
Course
Instructor
Date
Current State of the Quality of Care and Outcomes
Fischer et al. (2023) found that veterans residing in rural regions often face the challenge of traveling significant distances to access the closest VA hospital or institution. According to Fischer et al. (2022), the average travel time for these veterans to reach their destination is between 1.5 and 4 hours. When troops afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) choose to abstain from therapy, they jeopardize their entire physical and emotional well-being, as well as their lives, by exposing themselves to severe and lasting adverse outcomes. Multitudes of individuals have enduring health issues, despair, suicidal ideation, interpersonal difficulties, alcoholism, and homelessness, among an extensive range of other consequences. Various reasons, including the stigma associated with mental health issues, may deter some troops from seeking treatment for their PTSD. However, the availability of care should not be one of these obstacles.
Necessity of Health Policy Development
Rural-dwelling veterans may use telemedicine services to get essential psychotherapy and treatments for PTSD. This would make these therapies more accessible by bringing them closer either to the individuals or by allowing them to be done in the comfort of their own homes. The number of troops who would engage in a program of this kind cannot be accurately forecasted. Every soldier, especially those who are exceptionally vulnerable and lack convenient access to healthcare, should be handled with utmost respect and regard. Willett et al. (2023) conducted a study that estimated a potential prevalence of PTSD in up to 14% of troops upon their return. Early intervention for PTSD in soldiers is associated with a reduced likelihood of developing further adverse effects and chronic health issues in the future. A significant proportion of troops are evading receiving the necessary treatment because of the physical separation from healthcare providers or the stigma associated with seeking therapy.
Reasons a Developed Policy Is Vital In Improving the Quality of Care and Outcomes
If they do not have access to adequate medical treatment, veterans who live in rural areas are at a greater risk of experiencing a variety of adverse outcomes. The potential exists for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) telemedicine initiative for mental health to encourage the adoption of a large number of new telemedicine-based healthcare services if it is successful in generating positive results. The difficulty of having to drive substantial distances for their visits is something that veterans who live in rural areas often have to deal with. On the other hand, the availability of telehealth services may encourage people to take an active role in managing their healthcare needs and to seek help as soon as they become aware of any problems. While telemedicine may maintain a personal touch, some patients may prefer direct, in-person interaction with their healthcare practitioners at the same physical site. The precise number of troops who would choose telehealth because of this is now uncertain. Conversely, some studies indicate that soldiers have mixed viewpoints on whether they would use telemedicine or videoconferencing to manage their mental health issues. If the provision of the best possible access to therapy leads to enhanced outcomes with early intervention, there is no justification for withholding such treatment.
Get help with your MSN FPX6026 Assessment 3
Advocate for Policy Development in Other Care Settings
According to research done by Fogle et al. (2020), the suicide rate among troops in the United States was around 19 per 100,000 individuals per day. Individuals who have PTSD have voiced a strong inclination for a comprehensive and integrated treatment approach that would include both physical and mental healthcare services, with a particular focus on veterans. In order to address the requirements of these warriors and facilitate the provision of additional healthcare services via telemedicine, it is possible to build a telemedicine-centered program. This would lead to the adoption of a more comprehensive approach, which is the desired outcome for many veterans.
Analyzing How Interprofessional Aspects of A Policy Aid In Efficiently Achieving Desired Outcomes
Veterans often have challenges in adapting to civilian life after their military release, and many individuals (Harper et al., 2022) may underestimate their need for support. A behavioral health telemedicine program may integrate an interdisciplinary team to provide a diverse range of treatments to veterans. The team may include social workers and education specialists who may aid veterans in acquiring job training and placement, as well as guiding them in career planning. A telemedicine program requires the involvement of several types of professionals, such as physicians, nurses, IT specialists, and the patients or military personnel themselves, in order to be successful. Veterans undergoing therapy for PTSD may have an increased sense of empowerment in managing their mental and physical well-being. To efficiently and effectively give mental health help to thousands of veterans, a multidisciplinary team could show these veterans the significance of their health care to a substantial population.
References
Harper, K. L., Thompson-Hollands, J., Keane, T. M., & Marx, B. P. (2022). Mental health treatment utilization and relationship functioning among male and female OEF/OIF veterans. Psychological Services, 19(3), 597. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/ser0000548
Fischer, I. C., Nichter, B., Aunon, F. M., Feldman, D. B., Levy, B. R., Esterlis, I., & Pietrzak, R. H. (2023). Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors in Older US Military Veterans: Results From the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jagp.2023.04.013
Fogle, B. M., Tsai, J., Mota, N., Harpaz-Rotem, I., Krystal, J. H., Southwick, S. M., & Pietrzak, R. H. (2020). The National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study: a narrative review and future directions. Frontiers in psychiatry, 11, 538218. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2020.538218
Willett, C. M. (2023). Lived Experience of Women Veterans Navigating the Veteran Healthcare System (Doctoral dissertation, Walden University). https://search.proquest.com/openview/18d10da2275c8a0a4f9700983f3b078e/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
Also Read: Flexpath Expert Writing Service
Appendix
Journal Guidelines
Journal of Psychiatric Research
The Journal of Psychiatric Research welcomes submissions structured around specific major headings: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Acknowledgment, and References. In addition to regular articles, it also considers Short Communications, which are concise reports on initial findings, capped at 2500 words and allowing for up to 4 figures and two tables. Moreover, the journal invites Letters to the Editor, which should contain significant general commentary or respond to previous content in the journal. Letter titles should begin with "Letter to the Editor" or "Reply to..." and are limited to 1,000 words without an abstract. Authors may include either one figure or one table in the text. This framework aims to encompass diverse types of contributions while maintaining brevity and relevance to the field of psychiatry.
