Paper Example on Health Keepers Model

The health Keepers model has three ideologies. First, the good health is affected by certain factors which require detailed response. For important health outcomes, there should be ways of prevention, intervention and disease management. Secondly, the ownership of the problem and participation in the solution will be increased if locals participate in design and implementation of the programs. Thirdly, the efficient health care services are focused on the person as a whole and not only the disease (Smith & Graham & Guttmacher, 2005). This means that they work with other agencies like government and NGOs to provide a broader range of services.

The model focuses on the cause of the disease, health perception, and delivery and how it will be utilized within the society. The model also conducts programs which target at improving the lives of the people, strengthening their families and empowering them. The programs are set in a way that it provides effective, culturally, integrated service (Smith & Graham & Guttmacher, 2005).

The Health Keepers Model has emphasized the importance of community in health care. It links poor health of people in the communities with their low socioeconomic status and illiteracy levels. The model includes the community members in the assessment of needs, design, implementation, and evaluation of programs. It also offers broad services which accommodate varying cultures and languages. It, however, varies from ideologies of suburban hospitals in various ways (Bezboruah, 2013).

The major difference is about profit-making. The Health Keepers Model is more charity work than a business like large hospitals. Employees work on a voluntary basis but not like bigger hospitals who pay their employees. Health care services provided in a hospital must be paid for, unlike the Health Keepers Model which offers services for free or at a subsidized price.

The Health Keepers Model is primarily governed by leaders from the communities they serve who have a passion to improve peoples lives. On the other hand, large suburban hospitals are mostly owned by private investors who are both locals and foreigners whose aim is to make income.

The Health Keepers Model also offers a better quality of healthcare than suburban hospitals. It also provides excellent customer service. (Paez, Allen, Carson, & Cooper, 2008). The reason for this is that they offer services to each person regardless of income levels, races or religion. Poor people can easily access medical services, unlike in large hospitals whose services are unaffordable to the poor.

References

Smith, M & Graham, Y & Guttmacher, (2005) Community-Based Health Organizations: Advocating for Improved Health, CA: Jossey-Bass

Bezboruah, K. C. (2013). Community organizing for health care: An analysis of the process. Journal of Community Practice, 21(1-2), 9-27.

Drake, R. E., & Latimer, E. (2012). Lessons learned in developing community mental health care in North America. World Psychiatry, 11(1), 47-51.

Paez, K. A., Allen, J. K., Carson, K. A., & Cooper, L. A. (2008). Provider and clinic cultural competence in a primary care setting. Social Science & Medicine, 66(5), 1204-1216.