Gene Denton 14

Within my community of Wyandotte County, many roadblocks within the healthcare system prevent residents from accessing adequate medical care. This is an issue I see as a pressing matter due to the multiple factors that define the problem’s root cause. These socioeconomic circumstances not only shape the health of individuals in the communities through access to healthcare, but also quality of education, employment opportunities, and overall well-being.
These socioeconomic concerns manifest themselves in different aspects, such as access to healthy food, access to healthcare (Medical, Dental, and Mental Health), access to safe and affordable housing, education, jobs, and most notably violence.
These priority issues provide critical information about health, health behaviors, and concerns in Wyandotte. Additionally, this information adds to the discussion of the quality of life for individuals experiencing poorer health conditions in Wyandotte County. When looking at the surface of this issue we can see that access to healthcare can be directly linked to a lack of transportation and a diversity in language. Looking further into the generic issue of transportation this can stem from the difference in the median family income and the cost of living or simply the lack of adequate public transportation in Wyandotte, this disallows families from being able to access doctors’ offices, hospitals, dentists and mental health professionals. When we examine the language barriers that exist within the healthcare system we can see that Wyandotte County is disproportionately impacted due to the majority of healthcare professionals being white whilst the census reports over 68% of Wyandotte County residents are minorities with only 72% speaking English at home.
Looking further into the issues surrounding healthcare and socioeconomic needs we can see that lack of transportation and income stems from poor education and jobs. Through research, it is evident that quality education has a direct impact on income, with the Wyandotte County Community Health Assessment reporting a graduation rate of only 78.6% compared to the state’s 90.2%. Jobs however don’t provide just income, additionally, many jobs provide insurance which can be the difference between life and death for Wyandotte County residents. We find that in this day and age, people have become reliant on their employers for health insurance, however, when one is entering the job market for the first time it’s difficult to secure a position with decent benefits. This still does not take into account that the employer is the one who chooses the coverage plan that they would like to offer, leading to the employer choosing the lowest cost plan and failing to take individual circumstances into account. And even with this employer-based insurance, the chances of the cost of the visit being fully covered are low. When it comes to public health insurance (Ex. KanCare & Medicaid) it simply isn’t available for young people considering most do not meet the eligibility requirements. Even studies conducted by the Kansas Health Institute have found that over 20% of Wyandotte residents remain uninsured due to the limitations of the program compared to a state average of 12%. When considering income the underlying need for healthcare is worsened as income directly impacts the neighborhoods we live in, those of lower incomes tend to live in violent and dangerous neighborhoods amidst food deserts increasing the need for healthcare, not limited to just physical but mental healthcare as well.
When looking at these contributing factors it is impossible for me to ignore them, therefore, I intend to earn my bachelor’s degree in communications before pursuing a master’s degree in public policy. By pursuing this path I can raise public awareness for social issues and produce policies that not only benefit healthcare for Wyandotte County residents but their quality of life as well.