On my initial post, I have discussed the service learning site in detail. However, I would like to give a brief overview about the agency, this time focusing on their mission and vision, which defines who and what they are to the community and the people they serve.
Fort Bend Family Health Center, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit community health center that provides individual and family health care services to Fort Bend and Waller Counties in Texas. The services they provide include medical, laboratory, dental, nutrition, and optical services in four different locations. The target population they serve are those whose incomes are at or below 200% the federal poverty guideline. They do not deny anyone, regardless of income or ability to pay. Therefore, people from neighboring counties also come to the health center to get the health care they could not afford elsewhere. Funding is primarily through United Way Agency of the Greater Houston.
Mission Statement:
Fort Bend Family Health Center, Inc. is committed to improving the quality of life for underserved individuals and families by promoting good health through the delivery of quality integrated services. We are dedicated to providing our services with compassion and respect.
Vision Statement:
Fort Bend Family Health Center, Inc. will be a vital part of a collaborative system that enables every man, woman, and child to achieve a personal vision of wellness. Toward that end, staff members enjoy and anticipate returning to work daily and go home every night knowing that a positive difference has been made in the lives of others.
Fort Bend Family Health Center, Inc. will be a vital part of a collaborative system that enables every man, woman, and child to achieve a personal vision of wellness. Toward that end, staff members enjoy and anticipate returning to work daily and go home every night knowing that a positive difference has been made in the lives of others.
Values: Diversity, Integrity, Respect, Excellence, Compassion, Teamwork
DNP's Role in Promoting Health and Wellness in Underserved Population
My role in this agency is to identify a feasible evidence-based preventive program for the pediatric population to improve the agency's, the dietician's, and the patients' outcomes. For this mission, I have done an extensive systematic review of evidence to identify the best approach or intervention. Implementing a program in the hopes of decreasing the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity is not easy. I realized I need to abide by certain rigorous standards to ensure validity of my project.
The different DNP roles I embody in this Capstone Project and Service Learning Experience are the following:
1. Essential III. Clinical Scholarship and Analytic Methods for Evidence-Based Practice-
I am a volunteer in the agency, but at the same time, I am helping the agency identify an evidence-based preventive program or protocol that will be serviced by the dietician. This required an extensive search of the evidences and identifying a study design and analytic method most suitable for the aims of the project and the resources that are available. It would be difficult for an individual to engage in evidence-based practice without the right education. So now I can appreciate more the importance of clinical scholarship in EBP. One cannot stand on its own. Although DNPs are not engaged in the development of theories like the PhD nurses are, application of research to practice still requires ample amount of knowledge and expertise in outcomes research.
I have been in collaboration with the agency's registered dietician and Special Projects Officer to continually update them with the progress of the project and to get their feedback. I have also collaborated with a few people from the scientific community to obtain guidance, advice, and direction for the Capstone Project. I am also fortunate to have the support of one of the Expert Committee members Dr. Sarah Barlow, although we have not actually met yet. She is actually the lead author of The Expert Committee's Recommendations Regarding the Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment of Child and Adolescent overweight and Obesity: Summary Report (2007). Collaboration with the appropriate people is integral for the success of this project. Since I am the team leader, so to speak, I have to make the initiative to meet and collaborate with the people who are able to provide guidance and feedback to ensure that this preventive program is based on the best available evidence out there.
3. Essential VII. Clinical Prevention and Population Health for Improving the Nation's Health
Childhood obesity is not just a national epidemic, but a global health issue that is affecting tens of millions of children. If no action is taken to prevent the rising prevalence of child and adolescent overweight in the country, these generation of children might not live long enough as their parents and grandparent will or have lived. Childhood obesity is linked with a lot of medical conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, asthma, and sleep apnea and others. There really is no evidence as to what is the best intervention to prevent and treat obesity in the primary care setting. Therefore, the strategy to halt the rising prevalence of obesity is prevention. If effective prevention programs using the best available evidence are implemented in the communities throughout the nation, this is going to make a huge impact on population health and subsequently, the nation's health. For this reason, I feel greatly accountable for ensuring the agency that this is the best available evidence.
To close, I would like to quote the words that the Institute of Medicine released with regards to childhood obesity:
The obesity epidemic is a serious public health problem
This project is in line with the mission and vision of the agency. It will serve the needs of the underserved population of the community who are very much affected by childhood obesity. Therefore, I must keep focused and keep my resolve to make this through, that I too may serve the needs of the underserved.
Reference:
IOM. (2004). Preventing childhood obesity: Health in the balance. Retrieved from the Website of IOM @ http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2004/Preventing-Childhood-Obesity-Health-in-the-Balance/ChildhoodObesity4pagerfixforwebpdf.pdf.
To close, I would like to quote the words that the Institute of Medicine released with regards to childhood obesity:
The obesity epidemic is a serious public health problem
that calls for immediate action to reduce its prevalence as well as its health and social
consequences. Therefore, the committee felt strongly that actions should be based on the best available evidence - as opposed to waiting for the best possible evidence.
(IOM, 2004).This project is in line with the mission and vision of the agency. It will serve the needs of the underserved population of the community who are very much affected by childhood obesity. Therefore, I must keep focused and keep my resolve to make this through, that I too may serve the needs of the underserved.
Reference:
IOM. (2004). Preventing childhood obesity: Health in the balance. Retrieved from the Website of IOM @ http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2004/Preventing-Childhood-Obesity-Health-in-the-Balance/ChildhoodObesity4pagerfixforwebpdf.pdf.
