Lay or community health workers (LHWs) are an important human resource in primary health care, and contribute to improving access to care. However, optimal use of LHWs within the health system is often hampered by a poor understanding of how this cadre organizes its work. This study aimed to better understand how LHWs organize and structure their time in providing treatment and … [Read more...] about The provision of TB and HIV/AIDS treatment support by lay health workers in South Africa: a time-and-motion study
Community health workers in low-, middle-, and high-income countries: an overview of their history, recent evolution, and current effectiveness.
Over the past half-century, community health workers (CHWs) have been a growing force for extending health care and improving the health of populations. Following their introduction in the 1970s, many large-scale CHW programs declined during the 1980s, but CHW programs throughout the world more recently have seen marked growth. Research and evaluations conducted predominantly … [Read more...] about Community health workers in low-, middle-, and high-income countries: an overview of their history, recent evolution, and current effectiveness.
Promising Approaches to Integrating Community Health Workers into Health Systems: Four Case Studies
The productive roles that community health workers (CHWs) can play in health care are drawing increasing interest among US policymakers, providers, insurers, and other stakeholders. While there is a growing interest, little has been documented about the scope of practice, supervision, and human resources standards implemented by states and by employers of CHWs, or how CHWs are … [Read more...] about Promising Approaches to Integrating Community Health Workers into Health Systems: Four Case Studies
Opportunities for Community Health Workers in the Era of Health Reform
Health reform has created a watershed moment for community health workers (CHWs). Both coverage expansions and a new focus on creating value in health care offer new opportunities for CHWs. This paper assesses existing impediments to and enablers of the expansion of CHW employment. It catalogues how the ACA and other health reform efforts affect prospects for sustainable … [Read more...] about Opportunities for Community Health Workers in the Era of Health Reform
The Evolution, Expansion, and Effectiveness of Community Health Workers
In the past decade, the community health worker (CHW) profession in the United States has increased its visibility, but its potential contributions remain underappreciated and more permanent financing is elusive. This paper describes the current state of knowledge about how and where CHWs can contribute effectively, where barriers inhibit efficient deployment of CHWs, and what … [Read more...] about The Evolution, Expansion, and Effectiveness of Community Health Workers
