A strong clinical care plan can only go so far if a patient cannot afford medication, find reliable transportation or access the resources needed to manage a chronic condition. Cooper University Health Care(opens in new tab) integrates social determinants of health screening into primary care and connects patients with community-based resources and community health workers. CHWs help patients navigate benefits, find local services, build self-advocacy skills and address barriers that may be difficult to resolve during a traditional clinical visit.
The results demonstrate the value of embedding this support into care. Among a cohort of 100 eligible patients who completed Cooper’s program, emergency department visits decreased by 42% and hospital admissions dropped by 71%. Community health workers are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between the care a clinician recommends and what a patient can realistically manage at home. Because CHWs often share similar backgrounds and lived experience with the patients they support, they’re often in the best position to understand the challenges and needs of those patients. This lived experience gives them the practical insight they need to help patients solve everyday issues that come up outside the clinic, which can help build trust and ultimately helps patients stick to their care plans.
URAC’s Community Health Worker Program(opens in new tab) Accreditation helps organizations build the framework needed to sustain this work. The program evaluates how organizations train, support, supervise and integrate community health workers into care teams to ensure consistent community support.
- Read the full article from Patient Care Online here
- Learn more about URAC’s Community Health Worker Program Accreditation here(opens in new tab)
