Question

Heart Disease in African American Community is my project I have been working on..

• Who are the stakeholders in the health concern or problem you have chosen?
• How do you go about choosing stakeholders?
• What is the importance of stakeholders in the success of public health programs?

• Draft Plan including feasibility and key elements such as stakeholders, resources, challenges, and conclusion

Answer 1

The burden of cardiovascular disease in the African American community remains high and is a primary cause of disparities in life expectancy between African Americans and whites.

The higher prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors (eg, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk) underlies the relatively earlier age of onset of cardiovascular diseases among African Americans. Hypertension, in particular, is highly prevalent among African Americans and contributes directly to the notable disparities in stroke, heart failure, and peripheral artery disease among African Americans.

The major stakeholders that are mainly having the concern regarding the heart disease in the African community are :

*Consumers/customers/patients

*payee

*Payor

*Organization

*External sponsors who are having interest in the particular area

*Insurance companies

*Pharmaceutical firm

*Government bodies

First, identify who your stakeholders are. Next, work out their power, influence and interest, so that you know who you should focus on. Finally, develop a good understanding of the most important stakeholders, so that you know how they are likely to respond, and how you can win their support.

Clearly, the interrelationship among the stakeholders in the healthcare system is rather complex. Two of the stakeholders, pharmaceutical firms and insurance companies, are publically owned corporations listed on the stock exchange. Their primary responsibility is to maximize stockholder wealth. Likewise, the primary goal of employers is to make money; however, their provision of health insurance for employees is a benefit, not a source of profit. Unlike the other stakeholders, physicians have direct fiduciary duties and responsibilities towards their patients. Although they receive remuneration for their services, the doctor-patient relationship is a sacred trust that transcends monetary reward. Patients have rights, duties and responsibilities. Finally, the democratic government has duties and responsibilities towards its citizens, but how they are defined in regard to the provision of healthcare.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer for all Americans, and stroke is also a leading cause of death. As frightening as those statistics are the risks of getting those diseases are even higher for African-Americans.

The good news is, African-Americans can improve their odds of preventing and beating these diseases by understanding the risks and taking simple steps to address them.

High blood pressure, obesity and diabetes are the most common conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.