Michigan has launched a pilot program to repurpose old COVID-19 testing sites, using community health workers (CHWs) to address local health needs and maintain patient care access. CHWs will provide on-demand referral services to well-being resources such as behavioral health and social services. At participating locations, CHWs will assist visitors in accessing community resources including food, housing support, utility assistance, and healthcare enrollment. The goal is to connect individuals to the medical care they may otherwise have gone without, addressing racial disparities across social determinants of health.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has initiated a pilot program to address local health needs and maintain patient care access by leveraging community health workers (CHWs) and repurposing old COVID-19 testing sites. As the United States approaches the end of its COVID-19 emergency declarations, CHWs have emerged as unsung heroes for patient care access.
CHWs are non-clinical laypeople charged with providing patient navigation services and other forms of patient support. CHWs establish meaningful connections with traditionally underserved communities by sharing shared experiences by way of ethnicity, language, or income level. They bridge the gap between healthcare providers and underserved communities and help connect individuals to the medical care they may have otherwise gone without.
The MDHHS press release stated that CHWs would provide on-demand referral services to well-being resources such as behavioral health and social services. Visitors to participating locations can consult with on-site CHWs for assistance in accessing community resources, including food, housing support, utility assistance, and healthcare enrollment.
CHWs at former testing sites will refer visitors to healthcare providers, help with health insurance coverage, and provide information on Michigan’s 211 program referral helpline. They will also offer patient education on managing chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes and promoting healthy lifestyles and habits.
According to the Hon. Thomas Stallworth, director of the Racial Disparities Task Force and the Governor’s senior advisor for Legislative and External Affairs, it is essential to continue work to address racial disparities across social determinants of health. This includes expanding community hubs, enhancing services and public health programs, and providing referrals to resources where it is most convenient for more vulnerable community members.
Although the work of CHWs is not new, its value has been increasingly recognized by the medical industry, mainly as healthcare professionals have acknowledged the role of social determinants of health. A recent study by the NYU Grossman School of Medicine demonstrated how community health workers helped patients achieve optimal blood pressure control, highlighting their role in managing chronic diseases. The success of the community health worker program was attributed to the workers’ ability to promote cultural competence and overcome language barriers.
Healthcare providers leading the pilot recognized the strengths CHWs bring to public health interventions. While some may have concerns about the scope of practice, the objective is not to replace clinicians. Rather, the goal is to enlist and educate community health workers who have shared life experiences with those who lack access to patient care.
According to Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive at MDHHS, “We must take every opportunity we have to bring access to health care to residents where and when they need it. Increasing entry points to care leads to improving social determinants of health and the overall well-being of our communities. We continue to look for innovative ways to keep Michigan residents healthy.”
