Health Care Administration Capstone Project Reflection, Semester 1

This capstone project reflection examines the student's experience in a healthcare administration capstone project. The project focused on the high infant mortality rates among African-American infants, attributing it to socioeconomic disparities, limited access to healthcare, and educational deficits. The project implemented an educational and advocacy-oriented healthcare program aimed at mitigating these issues. Key elements included understanding socioeconomic factors, evidence-based healthcare strategies, and management theories. The annotated bibliography highlighted the importance of breastfeeding, social support, and the impact of these factors on maternal and infant health. The student learned about the importance of collaboration, resource utilization, and critical assessment of evidence-based practices. The project's lessons will inform the student's future career by addressing health disparities through holistic assessments and tailored programs. References include studies on infant feeding, socioeconomic factors, and racial disparities in infant mortality.

Running head: HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
Health care administration
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

1HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
1. The capstone project was an important milestone in my education and career as a public
health professional as it made me aware about the high infant mortality rates in African-
American infants and the impact of educational programs on reducing the high rate of
mortality. There were certain elements of the project that paid a critical role in my
development as a health care professional and enhancing my understanding regarding
strategies to promote health of vulnerable population. The following are the key elements
of the project that had a major impact on my development:
 The detailed overview of the project gave the insight that low socioeconomic status is
the main reason behind health disparities and inequities. African-American communities
were more exposed to high rate of infant mortality rate and other concerns because of
poor access to health services, low education and poverty. According to Braveman et al.
(2015), socioeconomic factors including education, income and wealth are factors that
vary across individual and area levels and they play a major role in influencing health
related behaviors and stressful experiences in mothers.
 The project focused on implementing evidence based health care and population
empowerment services and the benefit of such project was shows by annotated
bibliography of research literature. The annotated bibliography is the key element of the
Capstone projects as it extends knowledge regarding the need for such project in case of
African-American by giving evidence regarding premature mortality in Blacks, lack of
awareness regarding the importance of breastfeeding in African American women and
the benefits of social support on improving health behavior of the target group (El-Sayed
et al., 2017; Asiodu et al., 2017).

2HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
 The management theories and resources are other key elements of the project. The
management theories gave insight about the role of policy programs, prenatal education
programs and cost saving initiatives on promoting infant and maternity care. The
resource of the project includes skilled staff, administrative system, equipments and
technology and financial resources. The combination of these factors is necessary to
effectively work as a team and achieve the goals of the program.
2. By completing the Capstone project, I have learnt about the factors that contribute to
health disparities in a vulnerable population groups and the management steps that can be
taken to empower communities or group of individuals who suffers from health
inclusion. The experience and lessons gained in this project will help me in my
profession as a health care professional in the future as I will consider social factors to
identify the cause behind disparities and apply different management theories to
implement best steps to empower community and promote health. I will focus on
collaboration with skilled and qualified staffs and appropriate technologies that can aid in
providing educational intervention to target population groups. Through this Capstone
project, I have acquired the skills of management, resource utilization, holistic
assessment and critical review of evidence based practices. These skills will support me
in implementing tailor made programs for vulnerable population group.

3HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
References:
Asiodu, I. V., Waters, C. M., Dailey, D. E., & Lyndon, A. (2017). Infant feeding decision-
making and the influences of social support persons among first-time African American
mothers. Maternal and child health journal, 21(4), 863-872.
Braveman, P. A., Heck, K., Egerter, S., Marchi, K. S., Dominguez, T. P., Cubbin, C., … Curtis,
M. (2015). The role of socioeconomic factors in Black-White disparities in preterm
birth. American journal of public health, 105(4), 694–702.
doi:10.2105/AJPH.2014.302008
El-Sayed, A. M., Finkton Jr, D. W., Paczkowski, M., Keyes, K. M., & Galea, S. (2015).
Socioeconomic position, health behaviors, and racial disparities in cause-specific infant
mortality in Michigan, USA. Preventive medicine, 76, 8-13.