Michael rhein iphi3/26/2023 He pointed out that CHWs can easily get overwhelmed or burned out by the work, and support from management is important in overcoming this. Brown agreed with Palacios and added that appropriate training and oversight are also important for CHWs’ success. Adriana Rodriguez Palacios responded by stating that, most importantly, a CHW has to be a trusted member of the community who can identify the real needs of that community. Murphy next asked the panelists what they see as key elements of success for a CHW. Brown noted that his organization, the Penn Center for Community Health Workers, has seen success from CHWs helping people first to understand the barriers preventing them from attending doctors’ appointments, and then to develop a plan for addressing them. The role of the CHW is to get to know patients and partner with them to develop an achievable plan for meeting health goals. He noted that many patients in the communities they serve may mistrust or misunderstand medical professionals or feel that they are not being heard. Orson Brown added that an important role of CHWs is to bridge gaps in the health sector. Jordan explained that medical and nonmedical case managers at the entity where he works have said that CHWs are helpful in providing support, increasing retention, and improving medication adherence. CHWs support members of the community, communicate with both medical and nonmedical case managers, and help to ensure that people show up to appointments. Depending on that test result, CHWs try to link the person to a clinical setting that offers a “gold standard” HIV test. Next, they work to bring people in for an initial walk-in screening using rapid HIV testing. First, CHWs conduct outreach and education regarding HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Jordan noted that CHWs address a continuum of care and provided an example based on his experience addressing HIV/AIDS. Their goals are to engage other community members, bring them into a clinical setting, and link them to health services. CHWs are members of the community they are trying to reach. Kevin Jordan answered by stating that he sees CHWs as the liaison between the community and the clinical or health care setting. “Education” refers to strategies that transform barriers into advantages and allow progress toward achieving the goals of thriving individuals and thriving communities. “Advocacy” involves empowering clients to be self-sufficient and address barriers. “Outreach” means connecting to the services available in the community. She clarified that “navigation” refers to navigation within the health care system. Shanteny Jackson explained that while the specific role varies by community, standard activities include navigation, outreach, advocacy, and education. Karen Murphy opened by asking the panel members what they see as the role of a CHW and how it intersects with the health care delivery system. Adriana Rodriguez Palacios, Oregon Community Health Worker Association (ORCHWA)
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