Hypertension in Marion County

                                               Nicole Leftenant

                                    The College of Central Florida

                                               March 25, 2021

Hypertension in Marion County

A community refers to a collection of people who interact with one another and whose common interests or characteristics form the basis for a sense of unity or belonging (Rector, 2019). Nurses are an important component of the community and have the ability to promote health and wellness among their local communities.

Hypertension in Marion County Florida

Our local community is in Marion County, Florida. Marion County is located in North Central Florida and is the fifth largest county in all of Florida. Marion County’s population is approximately 362,000 (Marion County Florida, n.d.).  In our local communities we hear a lot about depression, obesity and smoking cessation, however, we often overlook the one disease process that can have no signs or symptoms at all, hypertension. In 2018, 18.7% of Marion County residents were diagnosed with hypertension, while 14% who had hypertension were undiagnosed. This means that in Marion County 32.7%  of residents have hypertension both diagnosed and undiagnosed. This is a major problem that can easily be solved and should not continue to be overlooked.

Problems Assessed

In 2019, Florida’s estimated populated was 21,477,737. Out of those 21,477,737, 16.3% were uninsured. That can have a tremendous impact on our local communities healthcare, and whether or not they are aware of a hypertension diagnoses and are able to receive treatment. In the state of Florida, 33.5% of  patients were diagnosed with hypertension by their primary care providers in the year 2020 alone (Americas Health Rankings, 2020). Marion County was only 0.8% below the state statistic for hypertension. With that being said, there are a few available resources within the Marion County community that are there for the taking. For starters, The Heart of Florida Health Center is a Federally Qualified Health Center that has been up and running since March of 2009. Heart of Florida Health Center provides care to over 70,000 patients a year (Who We Are, 2020). A variety of services are provided to the insured and the uninsured on a sliding fee scale based off of the most recent income for one month. Services include primary care which qualifies a patient for a yearly physical with a provider. Screenings and well check-ups with a primary care physician can greatly decrease the rate of those going undiagnosed with hypertension. Patients that are diagnosed with hypertension may be able to overcome this diagnosis with diet and exercise as well as lifestyle changes. However, for those who require prescription antihypertensives, numerous pharmacies are now offering discounted prices for up to three-month supplies of certain medications. For example, Publix Pharmacy offers many maintenance hypertension medications at a cost of $7.50 for a three-month supply, and even certain medications free for a thirty-day supply (International | Publix Super Markets, n.d.). Resources are available, they just have to be sought out and utilized.

 

 

Plan, Implementation, and Assessment

The community assessment model that would be beneficial to the problem of hypertension within Marion County would be the problem-oriented assessment. This assessment begins with a single problem and assesses the community in terms of that problem (Rector, 2019). Many steps will need to be taken to develop a strategic plan. First, the incidence of hypertension will need to be determined within the community, and the state. Second, gathering data and information on what resources have already become available for this problem is pertinent, and using that information to determine what resources still need to be made to the community and what approach information to determine what steps need to be taken to share this information within the community such as surveys, flyers, information sessions and community meetings. Gathering data from the community in the form of surveys can be very beneficial because surveys will show how many people within the community are actually diagnosed by a primary care provider, and how many may need access to primary care to determine where they stand. This plan may take years to implement and have an effect, but within the first year of the plan it is essential to begin surveying the community and determining what resources have already been developed and implemented. By year two, new resources need to be developed such as weekend clinics for blood pressure checks, and exercise clinics. During year two newly developed resources need to be implemented to determine if effective. The human resources that are needed for implementation are possibly volunteers that can conduct surveys to determine needs, and groups to work together to come up with new and exciting resources such as free exercise clinics, and educational seminars on how to check blood pressure properly and understanding risk factors for hypertension that can excite the community and make it enjoyable to work toward becoming healthier individuals.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, hypertension  is an overwhelming problem within our community in Marion County. As a whole, the community in Marion County can benefit from learning and practicing healthier lifestyle habits to decrease their risk of hypertension if they haven’t already developed it. It is essential that awareness on this topic is brought to the public’s attention, and resources are sought out and provided to assist with the process of becoming a healthier and happier community. With the problem-oriented assessment, this issue can be researched further and countless strategies can be used to improve the overall health and well-being of our community. Whether it takes months or years, the results will be worth the wait.

 

 

 

 

                                                                References

 

Americas Health Rankings. (2020). Americashealthrankings.Org. https://www.americashealthrankings.org/explore/annual/measure/Hypertension/state/FL

International | Publix Super Markets. (n.d.). Publix.Com. https://www.publix.com/pharmacy/pharmacy-services/medication-savings

Marion County Florida. (n.d.). Marionfl.Org. https://www.marionfl.org/

Rector, C.  (2019). Lippincott CoursePoint Enhanced for Rector's Community and Public Health Nursing,  9th Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf 9.3.0].  Retrieved from vbk://9781975132200

Who We Are. (2020, October 28). Heart of Florida Health Center. https://www.myhfhc.org/who-we-are/

 

 

                     Heart Disease in the Elderly Population

                                   

 

                          What Are the Signs & Symptoms?

 

• Fatigue & Weakness
• Unexplained shortness of breath
• Irregular or rapid heartbeat
• Increased nighttime urination
• Swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet
• Dizziness or fainting
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Unexplained sweating
• Restlessness

 

 

Experiencing any of these symptoms? Contact your healthcare provider for more information on Heart Disease

 

                                                References

EthnoMed. (2020, December 1). Home | EthnoMed. https://ethnomed.org/

Heart Attack Symptoms | American Geriatrics Society | HealthInAging.org. (n.d.). Healthinaging.Org. https://www.healthinaging.org/a-z-topic/heart-attack/symptoms