Factors Contributing to Drug Overdose
Various factors contribute to drug overdose, including poverty, illiteracy, and resource availability. Opium is used in different forms, such as prescription drugs and injections, often in combination with other medications. Accessibility issues stem from the unavailability of clinics, physicians, or mediation treatments in the area. Studies indicate that increased availability leads to higher treatment utilization. Both consumer-based and provider-based factors impact accessibility, availability, and acceptability, contributing to the prevailing issue of opioid misuse.
Current Available Inter-professional Team Providers and Resources
Avera Gettysburg Hospital, a facility in Potter County, adopts an interdisciplinary approach to healthcare, integrating expert specialists, primary care providers, advanced technology, and research. Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) findings informed the expansion of services and inclusion of wellness programs, addressing consumer and provider-based barriers. Inter-professional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) further supports improved healthcare outcomes (Martin et al., 2021).
Interventions and Strategies
Interventions for opioid overdose encompass micro, meso, and macro levels, focusing on attitude change, resource utilization, and policy implementation (Qudah et al., 2022). Cultural competency is vital for the interdisciplinary team to effectively address diverse community needs.
Technology-Based Outreach Strategies
Telehealth emerges as a crucial strategy to overcome accessibility barriers for both consumers and providers, particularly in rural areas. Telehealth services offer remote monitoring, diagnosis, and care delivery, enhancing healthcare access and delivery efficiency.
Possible Telehealth Legal Issues
Legal considerations in Telehealth include licensing, patient-physician relationships, tele-prescribing, fraud, abuse, and data privacy. Adhering to state and federal regulations is crucial to avoid legal repercussions.
Continuation of Ethical Care
Despite technological advancements, ethical principles remain paramount in healthcare delivery. Telehealth services should prioritize ethical norms, ensuring patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice.
Conclusion
Potter County faces significant challenges related to opioid misuse, compounded by accessibility, availability, and acceptability issues. Interdisciplinary approaches and Telehealth strategies offer promising solutions, although legal and ethical considerations must be diligently addressed to ensure effective and ethical healthcare delivery.
References
Barboza, G. E., & Angulski, K. (2020). A descriptive study of racial and ethnic differences of drug overdoses and naloxone administration in Pennsylvania. International Journal of Drug Policy, 78, 102718.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102718
Butzner, M., & Cuffee, Y. (2021). Telehealth interventions and outcomes across rural communities in the united states: Narrative review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(8), e29575.
Hilty, D. M., Gentry, M. T., McKean, A. J., Cowan, K. E., Lim, R. F., & Lu, F. G. (2020). Telehealth for diverse rural populations: Telebehavioral and cultural competencies, clinical outcomes and administrative approaches. MHealth, 6(6), 20–20. https://doi.org/10.21037/mhealth.2019.10.04
Martin, P., Pighills, A., Burge, V., Argus, G., & Sinclair, L. (2021). Promoting interprofessional education and collaborative practice in rural health settings: Learnings from a state-wide multi-methods study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(10), 5162.
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