Vulnerable Populations in a Work Place

The purpose of this paper is to identify barriers in the workplace while understanding vulnerable populations that exist in the geographic area. This paper will also investigate disparities in promoting health care delivery within that region. The population used for this project is the rural Virginian population, specifically the Virginia. The Agency for Health Care Research and Quality projects approximately 33% of rural Americans are in poor to fair health (Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, 2012). Rural Americans have a higher percentage of chronic conditions such as diabetes and are more likely to die of a heart attack (Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, 2012). Compared to urban adults at 8.4%, 9.6% of rural adults are more likely to experience diabetes (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2012). Three point four percent of rural adults are more likely to be obese than the urban population (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2012). Only 44% of rural adults meet the Center for Disease Control recommendations for physical exercise (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2012).

Twenty percent of Americans live in non-urban areas but only 10% of doctors' provide medical services in these areas (Centers for Disease and Control, 2012). Low-density populations of rural areas limit not only the access to health care but also the choices available to rural Americans (Agency for Health Care Research and Quality, 2012). Lack of choices or access forces many rural Americans to drive long distances for health care resulting in fewer visits and less preventive care (Centers for Disease and Control, 2012). Additionally rural residents are less likely to be covered by employer-provided health care coverage or Medicaid benefits (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2012). Rural Americans have unique factors that create disparities not found in urban areas (National Rural Health Association, 2012).

Economic factors, cultural and social differences, lack of education, remote lifestyles, and lack of recognition by the agencies contribute to the disparities faced by rural Americans not found in urban areas (National Rural Health Association, 2012). Hence, the obstacles faced by health care providers and patients in rural localities are vastly contrast to those of urban areas (National Rural Health Association, 2012). The lack of education in cultural diversity is a major barrier to providing culturally competent care (Healthy People 2020, 2012). Providing cultural competent care to patients requires health care professionals to decrease disparities. Two goals of Healthy People 2020 are improve the health of populations, eliminate disparities, and promote health equity; furthermore, to promote quality of life, healthy development, and healthy behaviors across life stages (Healthy People 2020, 2012).

According to the National Rural Health Association, 2,157 Health Professional Shortage Areas exist in the rural and frontier areas of all 50 states and the United States territories. In designated health professional shortage areas, a shortage of primary medical, dental, or mental health providers exist (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2012). The blank is a designated a medically underserved area (Health Resources and Services Administration, 2012) A 260-bed facility located in the hosptial. Hospital is familiar with the rural population