NURS FPX 6618 Assessment 2 Mobilizing Care For An Immigrant Population

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX 6618 Leadership in Care Coordination

Prof. Name

Date

Mobilizing Care for an Immigrant Population

The creation of a Care Coordination (CC) program for undocumented Hispanic immigrants is of great importance to me. As the Director of CC at St. Mary’s Hospital (SMH), my mission is to overcome the barriers these individuals face when trying to access healthcare services. This program seeks to eliminate challenges such as language limitations, financial struggles, and the fear of deportation by promoting culturally competent care. Building trust within the community is a key component, and we aim to improve health outcomes for this vulnerable population by providing the support they need to navigate the healthcare system.

Rationale for Focusing on the Healthcare Needs of a Particular Immigrant Group

Latinos represent a significant portion of the U.S. population, with 57.8 million individuals identified as Latino in 2016, accounting for 19% of the total population (Perreira et al., 2020). Among them, undocumented Hispanic immigrants face distinct healthcare challenges, including fear of deportation, language barriers, and financial hardships. These obstacles prevent many from seeking necessary medical care, which is exacerbated by a lack of insurance. Additionally, this group has higher rates of chronic diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Hypertension (HTN), and mental health issues related to their immigration status (Wright et al., 2024). Addressing these needs at SMH will help bridge the gap in healthcare access and improve community health outcomes, as well as reduce healthcare costs by minimizing emergency room visits.

Criteria for Selection

The decision to focus on the undocumented Hispanic migrant community is based on two factors: the demographic size of this group, which makes up 19% of the U.S. population (Perreira et al., 2020), and the significant health disparities they face, including chronic conditions like DM and HTN, along with insufficient mental health care. These issues are further compounded by socio-economic factors such as low income and lack of insurance, making this group a high-priority target for intervention at SMH.

Evaluating Healthcare Needs

A strategic approach is required to improve healthcare services for undocumented Hispanic immigrants. The Six Sigma DMAIC framework provides a structured method for identifying and addressing healthcare needs at SMH.

• Define: The primary challenge is that undocumented Hispanic immigrants face barriers to accessing medical services, including concerns about deportation, language issues, financial limitations, and inadequate insurance coverage (Ornelas et al., 2020). This initiative aims to improve care delivery, chronic disease management (CDM), provide culturally sensitive services, and foster trust within the community.
• Measure: Data collection is essential to understand the scope of the problem. We will gather demographic data on undocumented immigrants, examine healthcare usage trends, and assess the prevalence of chronic conditions like DM, HTN, and mental health issues. Methods include surveys, focus groups, and Electronic Health Record (EHR) analysis at SMH (Funk & Lopez, 2022).

NURS FPX 6618 Assessment 2 Mobilizing Care For An Immigrant Population

• Analyze: The analysis will identify key barriers, including language difficulties, the high uninsured rate (34%), economic challenges, and the fear of deportation (Kronenfeld et al., 2021). Tools like Pareto Analysis and Fishbone Diagrams will help pinpoint these obstacles systematically.
• Improve: To address these barriers, we will recruit bilingual healthcare providers, offer interpretation services, provide sliding-scale payment options, and enhance cultural competency among staff (White et al., 2020). Partnerships with local organizations for outreach and educational efforts are also key.
• Control: Ongoing monitoring of healthcare usage, patient satisfaction, and health outcomes will ensure that improvements are sustained. We will use EHR systems to track progress and implement continuous staff training and financial support through grants (Tsai et al., 2020).

Recognized Organizations and Stakeholders

Coordinated care for undocumented Hispanic immigrants involves collaboration with various stakeholders. International organizations like Doctors Without Borders and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) play a crucial role in providing medical assistance to migrant populations (Doctors Without Borders, 2024). At the national level, the CDC and HRSA provide funding and guidelines for healthcare initiatives (CDC, 2024). Locally, healthcare facilities, public health agencies, and non-profit organizations like UnidosUS and the Hispanic Services Council offer essential support services, including legal assistance, interpretation, and financial aid (Hispanic Services Council, n.d.).

Defining Characteristics of the Population

The undocumented Hispanic immigrant population in Tampa is diverse, with a focus on working-age adults (18-50) and children. Employment opportunities in construction, hospitality, and agriculture are common, but these workers often face job insecurity and lack benefits (Funk & Lopez, 2022). Socially, many live in multigenerational households, fostering strong familial bonds, though overcrowding and limited resources are prevalent. Spanish is the primary language spoken, with many adults possessing limited English proficiency, relying on children for translation. This community experiences high levels of stress, financial insecurity, and concerns over deportation (Ornelas et al., 2020).

Analyzing Existing Organizational Policies for Healthcare Delivery

SMH has policies in place to ensure healthcare access for refugees and immigrants without permanent resident status. These policies include offering adjustable pricing, hiring bilingual staff, and collaborating with community groups to improve outreach and education (White et al., 2020). SMH ensures patient privacy and stays compliant with local, state, and federal regulations, including EMTALA. Additionally, SMH actively participates in lobbying and policy formulation to enhance healthcare accessibility for marginalized communities (Brown, 2020).

Assessing Two U.S. Healthcare Policies

Key healthcare policies that affect immigrant communities include EMTALA and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). EMTALA mandates that hospitals provide emergency care regardless of immigration status (Brown, 2020). However, its scope is limited to emergency services, leaving undocumented immigrants without access to routine care. The ACA aims to expand health insurance coverage, but undocumented immigrants are excluded from benefits like Medicaid and the Health Insurance Marketplace, exacerbating health disparities (Ye & Rodriguez, 2021).

Preconceived Notions and Biases

There are common misconceptions about undocumented Hispanic immigrants, such as the belief that they overuse emergency services or do not value preventive care. These biases often stem from systemic barriers, such as fear of deportation and financial constraints (Kronenfeld et al., 2021). Language barriers and cultural misunderstandings also contribute to miscommunication, inaccurate diagnoses, and substandard care. Understanding these challenges and providing cultural competency training for healthcare providers is essential for improving care and fostering trust (Hispanic Services Council, n.d.).

Conclusion

Addressing the healthcare needs of undocumented Hispanic immigrants at SMH is essential for improving health outcomes and breaking down barriers to care. By providing culturally competent care, overcoming language barriers, and offering financial assistance, we can reduce health disparities and improve community health. Utilizing frameworks like Six Sigma DMAIC ensures a systematic approach to enhancing healthcare delivery and fostering long-term improvements for this vulnerable population.

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Table: Evaluation Framework for Mobilizing Care

Phase	Description	Actions and Strategies
Define	Identify the barriers undocumented Hispanic immigrants face in accessing care.	Address concerns like fear of deportation, language barriers, financial issues, and lack of insurance coverage.
Measure	Collect data to understand the extent of the problem and identify at-risk individuals.	Use surveys, focus groups, and EHR data from SHM to assess the population’s healthcare usage and health status.
Analyze	Analyze the root causes of healthcare disparities within the population.	Use Pareto Analysis and Fishbone Diagrams to identify key barriers like economic issues, fear of deportation, and language challenges.
Improve	Develop and implement strategies to reduce barriers to healthcare access.	Recruit bilingual healthcare providers, provide interpretation services, and introduce sliding-scale payment options.
Control	Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.	Track healthcare usage and health outcomes using EHR systems, and provide ongoing staff training and support.

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References

Brown, H. L. (2020). Emergency Care EMTALA Alterations during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the USA. Journal of Emergency Nursing, 47(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jen.2020.11.009

CDC. (2024). National health initiatives, strategies & action plans. Public Health Professionals Gateway. https://www.cdc.gov/public-health-gateway/php/communications-resources/national-health-initiatives-strategies-action-plans.html

Doctors Without Borders. (2024). Doctors without Borders – USA. Doctorswithoutborders.org. https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/

Funk, C., & Lopez, M. H. (2022, June 14). Hispanic Americans’ experiences with health care. Pew Research Center Science & Society. https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2022/06/14/hispanic-americans-experiences-with-health-care/

NURS FPX 6618 Assessment 2 Mobilizing Care For An Immigrant Population

Hacker, K., Anies, M. E., Folb, B., & Zallman, L. (2021). Barriers to health care for undocumented immigrants: A literature review. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 8(PMC4634824), 175. https://doi.org/10.2147/rmhp.s70173

Hispanic Services Council. (n.d.). Hispanic services council. Hispanicservicescouncil. https://www.hispanicservicescouncil.org/

Kronenfeld, J. P., Graves, K. D., Penedo, F. J., & Yanez, B. (2021). Overcoming disparities in cancer: A need for meaningful reform for Hispanic and Latino cancer survivors. The Oncologist, 26(6), 443–452. https://doi.org/10.1002/onco.13729

Ornelas, I. J., Yamanis, T. J., & Ruiz, R. A. (2020). The health of undocumented Latino immigrants: What we know and future directions. Annual Review of Public Health, 41(1), 289–308. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040119-094211

Passel, J. S. (2019). Unauthorized immigrant population: National and state trends, 2010. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2011/02/01/unauthorized-immigrant-population-brnational-and-state-trends-2010/

NURS FPX 6618 Assessment 2 Mobilizing Care For An Immigrant Population

Perreira, K. M., Los Angeles Abreu, M., Zhao, B., Youngblood, M. E., Alvarado, C., Cobo, N., Crespo-Figueroa, M., Garcia, M. L., Giachello, A. L

., Gonzalez, G., He, X., Llerenas, M. A., Monreal, M. D., & Rivera, A. (2020). Latino immigrant mental health disparities: Context, contributing factors, and implications for policy. American Journal of Public Health, 110(2), 268–276. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2019.305400