Research Paper on Hawthorne Windshield Survey

Introduction

The dynamics of any population is often a critical factor when it comes to addressing and promoting healthcare. Windshield surveys, therefore, act as vital tools that enable individuals invested and interested in the health of a population to survey the different parameters that constitute of the wellbeing of the citizens health-wise. This paper, therefore, utilizes a windshield survey to critically scrutinize the different parameters that impact and affect the quality, quantity, and frequency of healthcare services to residents of Hawthorne. These data will hence be used to single out a vulnerable population within the area in question, as thereafter address the health risks and disparities that drag along such a diversity.

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A Briefing on Hawthorne

Hawthorne is a simple town in Minneapolis characterized by a suburban outlook, a racially diversified population and a network of social, economic and political amenities availed for the citizens. According to the United States census bureau, the population estimates of Hawthorne in 2018 was 87,854 of which 8.1% were children under five years, 26.0% the youths under 28 years and 9.0% comprised of those with 65 years or more (US census bureau, 2018). The population of the region depicts a high number of the youth, with the population of the children and the elderly seeming not so far apart. Even though a smaller portion of the population, the rate of the children and the elderly population gives a prima facie picture of the high affinity for healthcare within the town. Hawthorne city is renowned for its racial diversity, and it has 31.4 % composition of the white, 23.9% of African Americans, 0.4% Native Americans, and 7.5% Asians (US census bureau, 2018). This diversity makes it a cosmopolitan city, and yet one that is more likely to have rifts and disparities.

Hawthorne From Across the Street

Housing: An observable outward look of the area along the Rosecrans painted a picture of a town that is highly occupied. A majority of the housing units are multi-family homes, and the others are single-family attached homes. The building structure of the town are visibly old, with a median of about 45 years on their foundations, with 70.7% of the residents being renters, and 5.2% of the housing units and apartments vacant (Best Places, 2018). Some of the buildings retain the traditional outlook, or maybe it is merely a sign of the extent of repair required to renovate the city to a modern one.

Social Amenities: The transport system of the area is relatively impressive, with quite a number of cars and bikes spotted on the roads. This could be the contributing factor for the 22.9 mean travel time (US Census Bureau, 2018). The area is also has a number of churches, mosques, night clubs, casinos, tattoo places, a district attorney's office and a number of K-12 public and private schools as with the case of Dowling elementary school and Henry senior high school. This is an indication that the area is of a diverse social and religious composition.

Health Status: Apart from the normal forms and types of infections and diseases, Hawthorne is also composed of people with different forms of disabilities, but the situation is not all that hopeless as the buildings and other facilities catering to the needs of the affected. There are a handful of hospitals and healthcare centers centralized to the area.

Health Risks in Hawthorne

The demographic information of any particular region is often vital more so when it comes to addressing the prevention of diseases and promotion of health. The high young population often connotes of high crime rates. The high percentage of the elderly however connotes to a high rate of health problems, ranging from diabetes to hypertension, immobility and other diseases that often manifest with old age. This therefore necessitates the need to address these health issues, by for instance, providing the public education in terms of the diet that can aid reduce the chances or the severity of conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, availing screening and diagnostic services for free or on subsidized prices and ensuring a consistent supply of insulin, in the healthcare facilities (American diabetes association). The old similarly have mobility issues, and hence require services like wheelchairs and the accommodation of their situation in the social amenities in their vicinity.

Health Disparities in Hawthorne

The racial composition of the area in question is similarly a critical tool in the assessment of the quality, quantity, and equality of medication and healthcare services issued to residents. Individuals of the minority groups are often likely to receive preventing healthcare services as well as low-quality services as opposed to their White counterparts. A particular Minneapolis-based HealthPartners, for instance, revealed the rate of the people of color getting a colorectal cancer screening to be 43.0% compared to a 69.2% of the Whites in 2009 (Hostetter & Klein, 2018). This diversity makes this area unique and attractive, but it similarly is a loophole for inequality when it comes to the provision of healthcare. The racial disparity in the healthcare sector argument is often not a monolithic issue, but one surrounded by other problems such as the poor social, economic status of the racial minority, high levels of poverty (Hawthorne has a 17.0% poverty level), inadequate housing among other factors. The outcome of this disparity includes poor treatment, lack of respect from the healthcare givers, lack of communication and empathy from the physician among others. Financial constraints often lead to the skipping of appointment as the patients might be joggling with two carriers, family issues and other duties that might hinder them from receiving their medication.

Conclusion

The world is characterized by individuals of different races, ethnicities, religious beliefs and socioeconomic status, a diversity that has often necessitated for the deep understanding of these characters when it comes to dealing with the different people. The healthcare sector similarly must understand its clients' and patients' social, demographic, religious, cultural and economic status and situations to promote health and prevent diseases effectively. The population characteristic is vital when it comes to the comorbidity of the people, while the financial information helps in the gauging of their abilities to access medication. It is therefore crucial for any healthcare provider to familiarize with their patients to avoid cases of disparities and inequality.

References

Hawthorne: California (2018). Best places. https://www.bestplaces.net/housing/city/california/hawthorne

Type 2 diabetes (n.d). American diabetes association. http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/medication/

Quick facts; Hawthorne city, California (2018). US Census Bureau quick facts. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/hawthornecitycalifornia