Healthy People 2020 Case Study

Currently, healthcare has shifted from curative care to preventive care. The American public benefits from preventive care because it is cost effective and has lasting impacts on the community. The initiative of Healthy People 2020 is focusing on the health and preventing disease in local communities. The goals of Healthy People 2020 are to promote healthy behaviors, encourage quality of life while eliminating disparities among all age groups within the community (Healthy People 2020). Healthy People were first started in 1979 as result from the recommendations of health awareness authorities that our nation should engage in disease prevention (Healthy People, 2020). In this discussion, an objective from the Healthy People 2020 as well as the reasons for its relevancy will be examined. The Healthy People 2020 objective I chose to focus on is heart disease and the impact it has on my local community. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). In Franklin County, heart disease is also the leading cause of death with an annual death rate of 1,917 from 2004-2006 (The Ohio Department of Health, 2008). This objective is relevant to my experience working on a cardiac specialty unit. In addition, it relates to patient

Education is the key in decreasing the risk factors for heart disease in general public. Cardiovascular disease accounts for one in three deaths annually n the United States (Luckhaupt & Calvert, 2014). Therefore, community nurses need to take the extra step and travel to local businesses, schools and facilities to do teaching and motivate the community for healthier lifestyles. Expanding new health programs is one way to induce lifestyle changes in the community. It takes dedication from the community health nurse to make healthier communities