Authors: Benjamin J Oldfield, Akira Kuriyama, Daniel Palazuelos
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 definitions of CHW roles, and actively include CHWs themselves in program design and evaluation. CHWs bring unique local knowledge, trust, and creativity that go beyond measurable outcomes like readmissions, and leveraging these “frontline insights” is key to improving health for complex populations.
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Resource Topic: CHW programs
Resource Type: Editorial
Year: 2026
Region: North America (U.S. and Canada)
Country: United States of America
Publisher May Restrict Access: No