Description
The benchmark assesses the following competencies:
1.4 Participate in health care policy development to influence nursing practice and health care.
Research public health issues on the "Climate Change" or "Topics and Issues" pages of the American Public Health Association (APHA) website. Investigate a public health issue related to an environmental issue within the U.S. health care delivery system and examine its effect on a specific population.
Write a 750-1,000-word policy brief that summarizes the issue, explains the effect on the population, and proposes a solution to the issue.
Follow this outline when writing the policy brief:
- Describe the policy health issue. Include the following information: (a) what population is affected, (b) at what level does it occur (local, state, or national), and (c) evidence about the issues supported by resources.
- Create a problem statement.
- Provide suggestions for addressing the health issue caused by the current policy. Describe what steps are required to initiate policy change. Include necessary stakeholders (government officials, administrator) and budget or funding considerations, if applicable.
- Discuss the impact on the health care delivery system.
Include three peer-reviewed sources and two other sources to support the policy brief.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide
Explanation & Answer
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Running head: CLIMATE CHANGE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES
Climate Change and Public Health in the United States
Name
Institution
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CLIMATE CHANGE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES
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Climate Change and Public Health in the United States
Climate change is an essential aspect of environmental health. On the other hand, the
field of environmental health aims at fostering the advancement of communities that adhere to
optimal levels of safety and well-being (Watts et al., 2015). Climate change has increased the
global community’s levels of vulnerability to ill health. The healthcare system in the United
States is considered as one of the leading causes for climate change across the globe. According
to Watts et al. (2018), the US health care system is ranked 13th in terms of greenhouse gas
emissions despite its position as one of the most expensive systems across the globe. Such a
premise is attributed to the fact that the health care sector in this economy uses the highest
amounts of energy to foresee its operations in the form of electricity and heating. On the other
hand, Lippi et al. (2019) related the greenhouse gas emissions to adverse environmental and
health outcomes such as respiratory illnesses, depletion of the ozone layer, global warming, the
release of pollutants, and development of cancers that result from chemical exposures.
Description of the Policy Issue
Climate change has imposed great adversities on the lives of Americans. Ideally, human
beings require clean water, safe air and ample communities to survive. However, climate change
acts as a great threat to such foundations of wellness and health. Lippi et al. (2019) explain that
despite the fact that the health statuses of the entire population of the United States is at great
risk, climate change has played a significant role in the processes of heightening the issues of
inequality and the harms that are associated with poor health. Watts et al. (2018) highlight the
health risks associated to climate change as increased air pollution, adverse weather, and
increased release of heat waves, population displacement, and alterations in the previously
appreciated dimension of vector ecology. In real sense, high risk and vulnerable populations such
CLIMATE CHANGE AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN THE UNITED STATES
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as people with color, children, chronically ill populations, the elderly and the chronically ill
persons in the United States are worse hit by the effects of climate change.
Watts et al. (2015) explain that there is a strong link between temperature increments and
an increase in the levels of antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The fact that climate change has led
to a great increase in the intensity of heat waves in the United States reveals its position as an
issue of public health concern. On the other hand, Watts et al. (2015) consider an increase in the
levels of exposure ...
