Module 7 Response

The responses to your peers should be substantive and engaging. Agree or disagree with their perspective, add new information, including evidence for scholarly literature, and pose a question. Demonstrate critical thinking in all writing in this course. If applicable, make an effort to respond to a post that no one has responded to first.

Response to each studentS response . APA FORMAT. INCLUDED REFERENCESE FOR EACH STUDENTS

FIRST STUDENT

In an ideal healthcare system, health disparities would be addressed through equitable access to healthcare services, preventive care initiatives, and data driven decision making. Health disparities occur when certain populations experience poorer health outcomes due to social, economic, and environmental barriers rather than individual health behaviors. Healthcare systems must focus on health equity by allocating resources based on patient need and improving access for underserved populations.

One major disparity involves limited healthcare access among rural populations. Individuals living in rural communities frequently experience provider shortages, transportation challenges, and limited access to specialty services. Expanding telehealth programs and strengthening rural healthcare infrastructure can improve preventive care and chronic disease management. Bolin et al. (2015) explain that rural populations consistently experience poorer health outcomes due to limited healthcare availability and geographic isolation, emphasizing the need for system level interventions to improve access.

Another significant disparity exists in racial and ethnic differences in chronic disease outcomes, particularly diabetes and hypertension. Minority populations often experience higher rates of chronic illness due to social determinants of health, including reduced access to preventive services and socioeconomic barriers. Artiga and Hinton (2018) explain that social and economic conditions strongly influence health outcomes and contribute to persistent disparities among racial and ethnic minority groups. Improving culturally competent care and accurately documenting demographic information within electronic health records allows healthcare organizations to identify disparities and implement targeted population health interventions.

Addressing health disparities requires collaboration among healthcare providers, public health agencies, and community organizations. By leveraging health data analytics, expanding preventive services, and prioritizing equity focused healthcare policies, an ideal healthcare system can reduce disparities and improve population health outcomes.

SECOND STUDENT

Tackling health disparities requires strong collaboration across sectors, bringing together healthcare professionals, community-based organizations, and other local partners. Access to healthcare is a basic human right, and improving the outcomes of marginalized populations means investing in mobile clinics, strengthening community health centers, and making preventable care more affordable. According to Ndugga et al. (2025), a study found that racial and ethnic disparities persist specifically in Hispanic, Black, American Indian/Alaska Natives, and are deeply rooted in structural inequalities, many of which intensified during and after COVID-19 pandemic. Minorities are less likely to receive routine screening or care due to out-of-pocket costs. Improving SDOH data collection is another crucial strategy to reveal gaps in housing and transportation while also supporting policy changes that aim at reducing racism and discrimination. Mental health services, insurance coverage, and life expectancy continue to disproportionately affect minorities Ndugga et al. (2025). Policies that work to resolve healthcare disparities within the health care continuum need to be expanded and protected to ensure that populations that have the least access to care are not forgotten in the health cycle process. Policies currently in place that have created barriers need to be reversed to lessen the already struggling communities.

Preventative care is fundamental to the well-being of all individuals; it has an enormous impact on overall longevity and creates stronger communities when less illness or disease is present. Yet this measure continues to hide behind complex and high-cost health plans. Expanding access for routine monitoring, such as screenings, vaccinations and medication adherence requires us to address the barriers that hinder progress. Although government spending on health has risen year after year, we have only seen modest progress in communities experiencing inequities, while other gaps in care has increased Yancy, C. et al. (2025). This makes me wonder whether the roadblocks are tied to funding constraints, limited staffing in high need areas, insufficient data to understand healthcare gaps, or a broader systemic failure. We possess the tools to drive change, yet the effort needed to reduce these disparities is so immense.

While preventative care plays a critical role in reducing disease or illness, its impact is limited when socio-economic barriers prevent people from accessing even the most basic services. In their 2023 article, Alvidrez and Perez-Stable emphasize that health disparities research is grounded in two core pillars: race/ethnicity and socio-economic status (SES). One area that is necessary to address SES is mirroring or hiring providers who reflect the community they serve. Offering care in multiple languages and training staff to understand cultural norms within the populations they serve. Expanding screening for SDOH and prioritizing resources to the communities most affected with declining health. Health disparities stem from multiple structural and social factors, addressing them really requires a multifaceted approach grounded in joint efforts from communities, healthcare organizations and other agencies Alvidrez and Perez-Stable (2023). Policy reform without implementation remains stagnant; it may set the direction for change, but real on the ground action is what truly advances the efforts to dismantle health disparities.