Chase Reece, BSHP '24

To recap this week, I worked on collecting and analyzing health data for our communities that centered around cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These are both important health issues for rural communities, and rural residents are often impacted by these diseases at a greater rate than urban residents. This disparity is due to a variety of factors, including lifestyle factors, access to medical care, demographics, and socioeconomic status. After the data was collected, the communities with the most significant needs were identified. Further, the potential resources in the communities to help address these problems, including the presence of primary care providers and specialists, were assessed. While the prevalence of these diseases may not be drastically higher in rural communities, the severity of their impacts is. This research and data may eventually lead to a more in-depth project that utilizes health fairs and screenings to diagnose these conditions early in order to help individuals obtain quicker treatment and better health outcomes. However, if the resources do not exist in the community to address these health issues, that is an issue in itself that must first be acknowledged. There are many interesting and potentially innovative methods for improving care and disease outcomes among rural populations, such as further incorporating the role of pharmacists into prescription management through additional training and certifications. Overall, this research has broadened my knowledge about assessing the health status of a community in addition to understanding the importance of identifying assets and resources within a community before a project is created. The health promotion competencies met this week include:

• 1.1.3: Identify existing and available resources, policies, programs, practices, and interventions.
• 1.2.4: Procure secondary data.
• 1.3.1: Determine the health status of the priority populations.
• 1.3.5: Determine the capacity to improve and/or maintain health.
• 4.5.1: Communicate findings by preparing reports, presentations, and other means.