Assignment Instructions
Some parents are refraining from giving certain immunizations to their children. How will this affect diseases in the United States in the future? How as medical professionals can we embrace these nontraditional practices?
Sample Answer
Some parents in the United States intentionally refrain their children from receiving certain types of immunizations. This can be due to misinformation about the vaccines or a lack of information on the effectiveness of the vaccine. By doing so, they put their children at risk of serious diseases that could have been prevented. Lack of immunizations puts other family members at risk of diseases that can be transferred from one person to another. For instance, whooping cough infection in infants can be transmitted to the adults in a family. By refraining from immunizations, a disease outbreak can be experienced in the future. For example, if infants do not receive polio vaccinations, a polio outbreak can be experienced in the future. The United States health system can be overburdened with healthcare costs and this cost is footed by the families, private and public insurance. Lack of immunization decreases the quality of life of the patients as diseases that can be prevented through vaccinations can lead to lifelong disability. For example, if a child does not receive a measles vaccine, they can be at risk of blindness in the future. Additionally, incomplete vaccination decreases the life expectancy of children.
How as medical professionals can we embrace these nontraditional practices?
Medical professionals can embrace nontraditional practices by rigorously engaging in Evidence-Based research and practice. Healthcare providers should identify the specific problems that are faced with healthcare and the traditional solutions and seek research on the most current practices. Healthcare providers should engage in interprofessional collaboration that creates a path for open dialogue on new healthcare practices (Gordon & Killpack, 2019). This will also ensure that the solutions to healthcare problems are chosen wisely. In planning the implementation of new practices in healthcare, healthcare providers should have clear roles in the change process, plan for success in change, and determine measures for the success of the contemporary practices.
References
Amin, M. R., & Saman, S. (2021). 7 consequences and risks of not getting your child routinely vaccinated. UNICEF. https://www.unicef.org/indonesia/health/stories/7-consequences-and-risks-not-getting-your-child-routinely-vaccinated
Gordon, S., & Killpack, K. (2019). Embracing change in healthcare: Tips for getting your team on board. Physicians Practice. https://www.physicianspractice.com/view/embracing-change-healthcare-tips-getting-your-team-board