CHW Central

A global resource for and about Community Health Workers

United States of America

Enhancing Health Equity Through Community Health Worker Interventions

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This case looks at how hospitals can use community health workers to screen patients for social needs like housing, food, and transportation. It shows that CHW programs can improve care, reduce hospital readmissions, and lower costs, using real examples from Johns Hopkins Hospital. The case explains how such programs can be expanded and made cost-effective while supporting … [Read more...] about Enhancing Health Equity Through Community Health Worker Interventions

Connected Care for Older Adults: A Pilot Intervention Engaging Community Health Workers to Advance Age-Friendly Care in Rural Oregon

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This pilot program embedded community health workers (CHWs) into rural primary care teams to support older adults with the 4Ms of age-friendly care: What Matters, Mentation, Medication, and Mobility. CHWs conducted home visits for patients 55 and older, helping with social needs, check-ins, and care engagement. Among 388 participants, most patients and all providers reported … [Read more...] about Connected Care for Older Adults: A Pilot Intervention Engaging Community Health Workers to Advance Age-Friendly Care in Rural Oregon

Community health workers serving Veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot intervention development and feasibility study

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This pilot program tested a 12-week Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) self-management intervention led by community health workers (CHWs) for nine Veterans. Participants found the program acceptable, appropriate, and feasible, and reported benefits from CHW-led education on COPD, breathing techniques, and inhaler use, as well as social support and access to … [Read more...] about Community health workers serving Veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a pilot intervention development and feasibility study

The Kitchen and the Cook: Context and Roles in Community Health Worker Programs

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Community health workers (CHWs) are increasingly recognized for improving care and reducing costs for patients with complex medical and social needs, but research on what makes CHW programs effective remains mixed and varied. To better understand what drives success, this editorial highlights that future research should focus on the context of interventions, use shared … [Read more...] about The Kitchen and the Cook: Context and Roles in Community Health Worker Programs

Examining the Cost-Effectiveness of Introducing Patient Navigation Services for Colorectal Cancer Screening Among a Low-Income and Uninsured Population

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This study looked at whether community health workers (CHWs) helping uninsured, low-income adults get screened for colorectal cancer is cost-effective. Using data from a Texas program with 3,196 participants, researchers found that CHW support increased screening and added only a small cost for each extra year of life gained. The results suggest that CHW-led navigation can … [Read more...] about Examining the Cost-Effectiveness of Introducing Patient Navigation Services for Colorectal Cancer Screening Among a Low-Income and Uninsured Population