Mode of Program Participation
Academic Scholarship
Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
Health Care in Appalachia
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Elements of providing medical services in Appalachia are explored including; cultural considerations, technology, access to care, cultural foods, the impact of humility, and a nostalgic romanticism of life “as it used to be”. Healthcare providers who understand these nuances are more likely to be co-participants in their patients health and promote medical compliance. The Appalachian population has higher rates of significant diseases and hospitalizations compared to the nation as a whole. Much of Appalachia is in the “Diabetes Belt” as designated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2011). This is demonstrated by the fact the Appalachian area of Virginia has a significantly higher diabetes rate than the non-appalachian areas (Virginia Department of Health, 2009). Other health risks for the Appalachian population include obesity, heart disease, tobacco use, cancers, and more. In fact, Ludke & Obermiller (2012) state, “The Appalachian region is one of the nation’s most obese regions…”, with a high percentage of hospitalizations from heart disease that is “...four times the national Healthy People 2010 goal”. For this presentation, the author draws on her 30 years of healthcare experience in Appalachia, her own Appalachian heritage, and her passion for providing competent, meaningful healthcare to the residents of Appalachia. She believes practice guidelines should be adapted to allow the patient to maintain a sense of cultural self. Recognizing the distinctive manner in which a group conducts their lives is a generosity, and healthcare providers are encouraged to look beyond stereotypical ideations and into the heart of rural Appalachians.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Dr. Judy Jenks Branscom DNP, FNP-BC has over 15 years experience as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in southwest Virginia. She is Assistant Professor of Nursing at Jefferson College of Health Sciences (JCHS), and co-founder and principal planner for the Appalachian Experience, a program that allocates NP students to clinical sites in distressed Appalachian areas. She is author of “Managing Diabetes in Appalachia” which is accepted for publication in the Appalachian Journal, Boone, NC. She conducts health care speaking engagements, targeting audiences of medical entities, industries, employees, and the general public.
Health Care in Appalachia
Elements of providing medical services in Appalachia are explored including; cultural considerations, technology, access to care, cultural foods, the impact of humility, and a nostalgic romanticism of life “as it used to be”. Healthcare providers who understand these nuances are more likely to be co-participants in their patients health and promote medical compliance. The Appalachian population has higher rates of significant diseases and hospitalizations compared to the nation as a whole. Much of Appalachia is in the “Diabetes Belt” as designated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2011). This is demonstrated by the fact the Appalachian area of Virginia has a significantly higher diabetes rate than the non-appalachian areas (Virginia Department of Health, 2009). Other health risks for the Appalachian population include obesity, heart disease, tobacco use, cancers, and more. In fact, Ludke & Obermiller (2012) state, “The Appalachian region is one of the nation’s most obese regions…”, with a high percentage of hospitalizations from heart disease that is “...four times the national Healthy People 2010 goal”. For this presentation, the author draws on her 30 years of healthcare experience in Appalachia, her own Appalachian heritage, and her passion for providing competent, meaningful healthcare to the residents of Appalachia. She believes practice guidelines should be adapted to allow the patient to maintain a sense of cultural self. Recognizing the distinctive manner in which a group conducts their lives is a generosity, and healthcare providers are encouraged to look beyond stereotypical ideations and into the heart of rural Appalachians.
