select a county and a state (this may be the county/state in which you reside, attend school, or plan to live and work).  After reviewing the website and the health outcomes in the County Health Rankings for the area, answer the following questions in a few short sentences as part of your discussion. 1-Select one area in need of improvement and list the general statistics pertaining to the specific problem. 2-How does the creation of the community health center program help to address this public health problem.  3-What can you as a nurse practitioner do to influence policy innovation to resolve the problem? APA style. 2 references (less than 5-7 years). 250 words. 

Discussion board class: health care policy | MSN FNP Online | Florida National University

I selected San Bernardino County, California for this discussion. According to the County Health Rankings, San Bernardino has a high mortality rate (824 deaths per 100,000 residents). Furthermore, the county ranks lower than average in other health outcomes such as clinical care and access to healthcare services. One area in need of improvement is increasing access to quality healthcare services. Specifically, 42% of San Bernardino counties are uninsured and 38% have limited access to primary care physicians due to cost or distance barriers. The creation of community health centers helps to address this problem by providing low-cost health services for those with limited resources or living in rural areas. Community health centers promote preventative care measures which can help reduce the overall mortality rates within the county.

As a nurse practitioner I can influence policy innovation through advocating for improved public policies both at local and state levels that will improve access to medical coverage and increase funding for community healthcare organizations like Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Additionally, I could work together with other healthcare providers in order to create effective strategies aimed at increasing insured population within the county while also raising awareness about existing programs that provide financial support for those who cannot afford medical insurance premiums or are ineligible due do income restrictions (CDC , 2020). By doing so we may be able to reduce disparities that exist between various populations allowing everyone equal opportunity receive quality care they deserve .