Recognizing the needs of the underserved in light of public health projects

Healthy People 2000 grew out of the idea that positive changes could occur if Americans worked together toward certain goals. One of the most compelling lessons learned from the Healthy People 2000 initiative is that as a nation we can make dramatic progress in a relatively short period of time. Ten years later, Healthy People 2010 evolved from the underlying belief that the health of the individual is inseparable from the health of the community, and that the health of every community determines the overall health status of the nation. Healthy People 2010 challenges individuals, communities, and healthcare professionals to take specific steps to ensure that good health, as well as long life, is accessible to all Americans. Critics of public health projects such as Healthy People 2010 argue that these projects often fail to meet their goals because solutions are seen through the eyes of the dominant culture--that we have a tendency to disregard the lived experience of those we are trying to reach. This is the reason why a deeper cultural awareness is essential to public policy formation. The real challenge and opportunity for wound care clinicians are to recognize the thousands of alternative health and healing systems in the United States, each with a colorful and unique worldview. This article identifies public health projects that impact clinical care, defines what is meant by the term underserved, and describes the health practices of what are considered ethnically diverse groups.