When analyzing the community health assessment several risks and weakness are identified. There are a few risks and weakness with the current state of Oncology Services. With physicians practices already at capacity there is no room to handle the current and future demand for these services. With an aging population new cancer cases are expected to increase by 34 % in five years. Higher smoking rates also contribute to new cancer diagnosis. Another risk is the equipment to diagnose and treat cancer is not keeping up with patient volume. This could be due to antiquated equipment that takes longer to scan patients therefore delaying results and sometimes requiring additional scanning. Additionally, poorly coordination of services by the staff is a risk factor. When test are not schedule timely it could be detrimental to the patient. A timely diagnosis could be the difference between life and death. Also, at Trinity there is little emphasis on cancer prevention and control is yet another risk. Early diagnosis leads to a more positive outcome. In addition, the sporadic use of educational programs focused on healthy living is a risk factor. Once people learn better they tend to do better. Knowledge is power.
There are also some risks associated with current condition of Orthopedic Services. The main risk is the lack of physicians. With orthopedic cases expecting to increase by 46% and outpatient joint and spine procedures increasing by 350%, recruitment is top priority. The timely development of additional space could propose a risk if not available in time to handle the growth of the service line. Another risk is not scheduling test in a timely matter. For example, a moderate break could lead to a severe break yet causing the patient more pain and a longer recovery if not diagnosis timely. Therefore patient care coordinators are needed. Also not educating the elderly and those who participate in sports and fitness is a risk.
References: Pfizer. (2008). Patient navigation in cancer care. Retrieved from http://www.patientnavigation.com/public/PatientNavigation.aspx