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Posted: February 2006
Week 10: Health Care Services
Suggested Concepts to be Covered
While we have outlined some core objectives for a unit on health care services, we realize there is much more that can be included. Within this broad topic, the following are some additional concepts that might be covered in this unit. Many of these topics can be explored through class assignments (see Case Studies and Class Assignments section).
Analyze the effect the political environment has on the quality and availability of health care services.
Examine the health care seeking behavior of young people, factors that influence such behavior (e.g., developmental issues, decision making skills, privacy, confidentiality) and implications for improving the organization and delivery of services. Discuss differences in health care seeking behavior and access to care for youth during middle childhood and adolescence.
Examine health insurance coverage and policies and how they impact adolescents' health care seeking behavior. For example, some managed care organizations mandate that services be reported to the policyholder. Such policies may lead adolescents to avoid seeking sensitive services or to look for other sources of care.
Discuss issues around access to oral health care among youth during middle childhood and adolescence. Discuss the use of dental disease as a marker of poor health and lack of health care access.
Study the HIPAA law and how it impacts health care services for adolescents.
Identify the challenges in serving special populations such as undocumented teens, homeless youth, youth in foster care, incarcerated youth, refugees and uninsured immigrant populations. What kinds of care do they receive and what challenges do they experience in navigating the health care system. What are the special needs of each of these populations? How can the health care system be improved to meet the needs of these young people?
Assess what indicators could be used to ascertain the quality of care being provided under public versus private health care service systems and for insured versus uninsured youth (e.g., are adolescents being properly screened for Chlamydia (a HEDIS measure), body weight, tobacco use.
Examine the different settings where young people receive services (doctor's offices, emergency rooms, school based health centers, community health centers, free clinics, health departments, migrant health centers, etc.). Compare and contrast the ability of each provider setting to serve different populations of adolescents.
Discuss the concept of "youth-friendly" providers and services. Examine how the current service systems can be improved to better meet the needs of youth during middle childhood and adolescence.
Study the impact of cultural competence on the delivery of health care and oral health services as it relates to age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and race/ethnicity. Review disparities in access to health care.
Study differences in the availability and accessibility of physical versus mental health care services for young people during middle childhood and adolescence. Identify models of care coordination between these two systems.
Substance abuse prevention, screening, and treatment services are frequently distinct from mental health services. Review available models where these components have been integrated.
Please be sure to visit our Sister Site, NAHIC. Resources on the site include a Brief highlighting priority health issues for adolescent & young adult males and many more publications.
We are pleased to announce our partnership with Child Trends. Together we will conduct research, create resources and offer assistance to improve the health of young people and their families.
