Discussion Prompt1 : This week, you learned that health care is an extremely regulated industry mostly because of the especially vulnerable nature of its customers: the patients. Legislators have created numerous laws to control everything from the process of insurance to how a patient must be treated and what they must be told by medical personnel. Individuals who break these laws can be subject to civil or criminal liability, so it is extremely important that every healthcare worker knows and understands the laws related to his or her job.
For this discussion prompt, you will use the St. Martha’s General Hospital Scenario. After reviewing that scenario and reviewing the laws that you learned this week, please discuss a healthcare law that may have been broken by an employee of St. Martha’s General Hospital. Identify any scenario where the law has been broken. Discuss the major points of the law. Then, analyze the facts of the hypothetical situation against that law to explain how the employee broke the law. Support your ideas with evidence from your readings.
Discussion Prompt 2: List three important air pollutants you generate in your daily life. Discuss the toxicity of these pollutants and ways to limit the air pollution you generate.
Discussion Prompt 3: Some people argue that developing countries should be exempt from limits on the production of greenhouse gases in order to spur economic development in these countries. Unfortunately, this idea places a disproportionate burden on developed countries to curb global climate change by reducing their caps on greenhouse productions even further. What are differences between the needs of these population as it relates to global climate? What assets can developed countries procure to developing nations to help alleviate the burden? How are communities’ health affected by these climate changes in developed and developing countries? Discuss your perspectives on economic development, environmental justice, and climate change between developing and developed countries as they seek a sustainable future for everyone.
This discussion forum meets MPH CEPH Competency #7: Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: As a medical professor, it is essential for students to understand the laws and regulations surrounding healthcare, the impact of air pollution, and the effects of climate change on population health.
Discussion Prompt 1: In the St. Martha’s General Hospital scenario, a healthcare law that may have been broken is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which protects patient confidentiality and privacy. In the scenario, an employee discussed a patient’s medical history with a colleague in the hospital lobby, violating the patient’s confidentiality. HIPAA requires healthcare workers to protect patient information and only disclose it on a need-to-know basis. This employee broke the law by disclosing confidential information to an unauthorized individual. It is crucial for healthcare workers to understand the legal requirements to protect patient confidentiality and privacy to avoid legal consequences.
Discussion Prompt 2: Three important air pollutants generated in our daily lives include carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter. These pollutants are toxic and can lead to respiratory problems, cardiovascular disease, and even premature death. To limit the air pollution we generate, we can reduce our use of private vehicles, properly maintain and upgrade household appliances, and switch to clean sources of energy such as wind, solar or hydro. These steps can not only reduce air pollution but also improve our overall health.
Discussion Prompt 3: Developing countries need economic development to improve the living standards of the population, while developed countries have a responsibility to protect the environment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions for global climate change. Developed countries can provide financial resources, technology transfer, and capacity-building to developing nations to help them transition to sustainable energy systems. The communities below the poverty line with underdeveloped infrastructure are disproportionately affected by climate change, as they have limited resources to adapt to the consequences that occur due to climate change. Developed countries need to consider climate justice by taking responsible, proactive measures in limiting greenhouse gases and helping developing nations protect their population’s health from the adverse effects.
