Enhancing Health Equity Through Community Health Worker Interventions

Authors: Michelle Nguyen, Abigail Sojka, Kimberly Hailey-Fair, Marcie Johnson & Panagis Galiatsatos

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 hospital goals. Students are asked to design a practical plan for a CHW program and assess its costs, benefits, and impact on patient outcomes.