Investigating Pandemics and Epidemics;

One page double spaced APA 6th edition NO FRAGMENTED SENTENCES, NO PLAGIARISM – 2 REAL REFERENCES
1.    Identify the emerging or reemerging infectious disease you selected.
2.    Discuss the investigative process used to identify the outbreak, and describe its effect using descriptive epidemiology (person, place, and time).
3.    Apply the epidemiologic triangle and vector theory to your selected outbreak.
4.    Evaluate how prior health care interventions, or lack thereof, created the conditions that allowed this infectious disease to emerge.
5.    Discuss how the disease outbreak might have been avoided or mitigated. Include agencies, organizations, and resources that could have supported these efforts. If appropriate, consider ongoing efforts to control the outbreak.
Some of the most notable epidemics include the bubonic plague in the 14th century, smallpox in the 18th century, and influenza in the 20th century. Reportedly, the bubonic plague caused over 137 million deaths, whereas the death toll associated with influenza was 25 million (Ernst, 2001). These are dramatic examples of the kinds of acute outbreaks that led to the practice of epidemiology.
Many epidemiologists and health care professionals are concerned about the next potential pandemic or epidemic. With the increased mobility of society, the spread of infectious diseases continues to pose a serious threat. For this Discussion, you will investigate pandemics and epidemics using epidemiological tools, and you will consider strategies for mitigating disease outbreaks.
To prepare:
•    Using the Learning Resources, consider examples of emerging or reemerging infectious diseases that are occurring locally, nationally, or abroad. Then, select one example on which to focus.
•    Explore the epidemiological investigative process used to identify the emerging or reemerging infectious disease or outbreak.
•    Examine your selected infectious disease using the epidemiologic triangle and vector theory.
•    Consider how health care interventions may reduce the emergence or reemergence of infectious diseases.
6.    Identify the emerging or reemerging infectious disease you selected.
7.    Discuss the investigative process used to identify the outbreak, and describe its effect using descriptive epidemiology (person, place, and time).
8.    Apply the epidemiologic triangle and vector theory to your selected outbreak.
9.    Evaluate how prior health care interventions, or lack thereof, created the conditions that allowed this infectious disease to emerge.
10.    Discuss how the disease outbreak might have been avoided or mitigated. Include agencies, organizations, and resources that could have supported these efforts. If appropriate, consider ongoing efforts to control the outbreak.

ASSIGNMENT 2
TITLE:  Addressing Chronic Disease
One page double spaced APA 6th edition NO FRAGMENTED SENTENCES, NO PLAGIARISM – 2 REAL REFERENCES
1.    Identify your selected chronic disease.
2.    Describe the application of a chronic disease model to address this disease at the population level. Include your rationale for selecting this particular model.
3.    Discuss one or more current challenges related to the management of the chronic disease, and explain how these challenges limit the ability to deliver effective quality care.
According to the Population Health course text, “in the United States, an estimated 125 million persons have at least one chronic condition, and half of these persons have multiple chronic conditions” (Nash, Reifsnyder, Fabius, and Pracilio, 2011, p. 65). This week’s Learning Resources examine numerous health problems that result in a need for ongoing care. As you have explored this week, many costs are associated with chronic disease—both in terms of lives lost and socioeconomic burden. What can be done to help reduce chronic disease at the population level?
For this Discussion, you will take an in-depth look at chronic disease, and you will evaluate ways to address this issue through the application of chronic disease models and frameworks. In addition, you will consider the impact of the challenges of managing chronic disease on quality of care delivery.
•    Review the application of chronic disease models as a method for managing chronic diseases at the population level.
•    Consider characteristics of chronic disease models and how to apply them as presented in the Learning Resources.
•    Consult Figure 10-8 (p. 192) in Population Health: Creating a Culture of Wellness, and consider examples of determinants and outcomes of population health with chronic diseases in a specific subpopulation. Then, select one chronic disease on which to focus for this Discussion.
•    Ask yourself, “What are the challenges of managing this chronic disease? How do these challenges limit the ability to deliver effective quality care?” Conduct additional research using the Walden Library and credible websites as necessary.
ASSIGNMENT 3
TITLE:  Applied Epidemiology
One page double spaced APA 6th edition NO FRAGMENTED SENTENCES, NO PLAGIARISM – 2 REAL REFERENCES
1.    Identify the disaster and resulting population health issue.
2.    Describe the epidemiological considerations resulting from this disaster. Support your response with specific examples and evidence from the literature.
3.    Discuss the factors that made the community’s and/or nation’s response effective or ineffective.
On September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks created a grave disaster that included the destruction of the World Trade Center in New York. The day after 9/11, epidemiologists were asked to assess the environment around Ground Zero for potential hazards that might put those engaged in rescue and recovery at risk of harm. Beside the dust, what toxins might be in the air? Was the air quality safe or should rescue workers wear canister respirators or particle masks? What other protections might be necessary in the days following the disaster?
In this Discussion, you will look at the impact of a disaster through the lens of an epidemiologist, addressing such questions as, “What epidemiological considerations arise in the wake of a disaster? And, what makes disaster planning or emergency preparedness effective in terms of mitigating or preventing negative aftereffects?”
To prepare:
•    Identify a disaster that led to a population health issue. Consider this disaster through the lens of an epidemiologist, using the information presented in the Learning Resources to examine the epidemiological considerations resulting from the disaster. Conduct additional research as necessary using the Walden Library and credible websites.
•    Ask yourself, “What factors made the community’s and/or nation’s response effective or ineffective? What aspects of disaster planning or emergency preparedness did the community have in place that helped it cope with the disaster and resulting population health issue?”

ASSIGNMENT 4
One page double spaced APA 6th edition NO FRAGMENTED SENTENCES, NO PLAGIARISM – 2 REAL REFERENCES
TITTLE:  Factors That Impact Population Health

1.    Provide a summary of your selected public health initiative, and include a reference to the article (and URL to the article, if possible).
2.    Analyze the cultural, ethical, regulatory, and legal factors that influence your specified population health topic.
3.    Evaluate how current health care legislation may positively or negatively impact your selected public health initiative.

In this Discussion, you bring together the concepts that have been presented throughout this course by analyzing a current population health topic from an epidemiological approach. Consider the cultural, ethical, regulatory, and legal factors that may influence your selected topic.
To prepare:
•    Review the case study Ethics and Population Health, presented on page 334 of your course text, Population Health: Creating a Culture of Wellness. Consider the cultural, ethical, and legal factors presented in the case study and how they influence the Oregon Basic Health Services Program.
•    With these thoughts in mind, select a current public health initiative that has been discussed in the popular press or available at the CDC website or your state’s health department website.
•    Consider this initiative through the lens of an epidemiologist, and identify what you think are the three most important issues related to culture, ethics, regulatory, or legal aspects of the public health initiative.
•    Consider how current health care legislation might impact your selected public health initiative. Conduct additional research as necessary.