1. Write a initial response of 200-250 words to each question.
2. include 2 References and in text citations should conform to the APA 6th edition.

How can a client’s health risks, strengths, and needs be identified from a comprehensive health assessment? Give two examples and give rationales for each as an important component a comprehensive health assessment?

Next respond to other student’s postings with substantive comments. The postings should be at least one paragraph (approximately 100 words) and include references as indicated by the instructor.

1. Include at least 1References and in-text citations should conform to the APA 6th edition.

Stephen’s Response

One of the goals of a comprehensive health assessment is to identify a client’s health risks, strengths, and needs. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the health assessment is a process that involves a systematic collection and analysis of health-related information that can be used to identify and support beneficial health behavior and direct changes in harmful health behaviors (Fernald, et al., 2013). This information is gathered through a review of the medical record and an interview with the patient. Areas that should be covered in the health assessment include: the status of immunizations and screenings, cultural characteristics, communication needs, family history, advanced care planning, behaviors affecting health, mental health, substance abuse history, developmental screening, depression screening, and health literacy (University of New England, 2018).

Let’s examine two of these areas. By evaluating the status of age appropriate immunizations and screenings, providers can learn a lot about a client’s health strengths and weaknesses. If a client is up to date, this shows that they have a good knowledge and likelihood of compliance with recommendations and healthcare. Conversely, if they are not up to date, this may highlight either an inability or unwillingness to access the healthcare system. Furthermore, lapses in immunizations highlight a weakness against identifiable infectious diseases. Lapses in screenings pinpoint weaknesses in the clinical patient picture which need to be addressed. For example, if a teenager has not received the MMR vaccine, he is at risk for those specific diseases and may be unlikely to get other vaccines but if an older adult female routinely receives mammograms, she may be more likely to comply with other recommendations.

Cultural characteristics can include family and household structure, types of support systems, household risk factors, preferences, and family concerns; but also, other aspects we don’t usually consider cultural like homelessness, poverty, and sexual orientation (University of New England, 2018). This part of the assessment can highlight strengths like strong support systems or weaknesses like risk factors in diet or lifestyle, or lack of access or support in health behaviors. This part of the assessment may identify a strong cultural reliance on alternative therapies or a tight knit family structure that will assist in care of the client.

References

Fernald, D., Tsai, A., Vance, B., James, K., Barnard, J., Staton, E., et al. (2013). Health Assessments in Primary Care: A How-to Guide for Clinicians and Staff: Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Retrieved from https://www.ahrq.gov/sites/default/files/publications/files/health-assessments_0.pdf.

University of New England. (2018). Comprehensive health assessment. Retrieved from http://www.une.edu/care-management-learning-activities/Comprehensive-Health-Assessment.

Meagan’s Response:

Comprehensive Health Assessment

A client’s health risks, strengths and needs can be identified through a comprehensive health assessment due to its thorough nature. When inclusion of the health history, thorough examination, and other conversation, the provider is able to obtain a good understanding of the patient. This includes where the patient’s strengths are as well as weaknesses while determining the necessary education that is needed as well as treatment if needed.

Example 1

Gray (2004), gives the example of a comprehensive health assessment taking place in an elderly patient’s home. This can provide extremely valuable information for the provider. When having the ability to assess a patient’s home environment it would be effortless to identify where there needs to be modifications for safety, especially for the older adult patient.

Example 2

A large component of a comprehensive health assessment is the patient’s health history. In order to obtain a proper health history the provider and the patient must both be aware of the goals of obtaining the history (Quirk & Casey, 1995). The provider must also be cognizant of any preconceived thoughts about the patient and remain neutral and non judgmental in order to obtain a true history.

References

Gray, L., & Newbury, J. (2004). Health assessment of elderly patients. Australian Family Physician, 33(10), 795-838.

Quirk, M., & Casey, L. (1995). Primary care for women: the art of interviewing. Journal Of Nurse-Midwifery, 40(2), 97-64.

Jodi’s Response:

A comprehensive health assessment is an important tool that helps to identify the clients health risks, strengths, and needs. When client’s utilize yearly exams potential health risks can be identified and choric health problems interventions can be established and reinforced. Through the exam health communication is important. The use of open-ended questions. This will allow for them to explain and generate more information. Using therapeutic communication helps to establish a supportive interaction. The patient will feel more comfortable and the interaction will become beneficial (Bates, n.d.).

By obtaining a family health history is an important part of the comprehensive health assessment. It helps to identify risk that the client might be at risk for based off family health history. Because it is on the family history does not mean that the patient will develop the health problem, however it warrants further assessments and education that help to decrease the chances of the patient developing the condition (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2018).

Obtaining a medical history is important part of the comprehensive health assessment. This helps to establish what current health conditions that the patient has and what actions are being done to reduce the incidence of complications. It also is useful for evaluating the patients understanding of his or her condition and what education is needed to assist them. A medical history includes diagnosis, allergies, current medications, past and present illnesses, medication history, current doctors, emergency contact information, previous surgeries, previous hospitalizations, and immunization records (DDS Safety, n.d.).

Works Cited

Bates. (n.d.). Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking. Retrieved from Interviewing and the Health History: http://culturalmeded.stanford.edu/pdf%20docs/Bates…

DDS Safety. (n.d.). Understanding the Importance of Medical History. Retrieved from DDS Safety: http://www.ddssafety.net/sites/default/files/attac…

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2018, May 8). Genetics Home Refrence . Retrieved from U.S. National Library of Medicine: https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/inheritance/familyh…