Discussion

Given the possibility of multiple risks for poor health status and healthcare access, the idea of risk profiles has been introduced. How might the ability to identify risk profiles enable healthcare systems and providers to explore the multiple risks in certain populations in terms of access to care and use of that care? It has been said that for many nurses during the period of social activism, their concerns with injustices in the world rendered their political involvement unavoidable. What are some of the examples that demonstrate the political involvement by nurses? As a society we assure the health of our public through the application of a comprehensive public health framework that starts with gathering information about families, communities, systems, and the population. How is this information gathered? What type of information is needed? How is the information used? For insured individuals, what cost-related barriers can still prevent them from accessing necessary care, and what is the public health consequence What are the primary barriers to healthcare access in rural communities, and what innovative solutions are being implemented to address them?