North Country Health Consortium works with partners to improve health outcomes across the state
LITTLETON, N.H., Feb. 26, 2024 (Globe Newswire) — New Hampshire is partnering with the North Country Health Consortium (CHW) to lead a statewide effort to increase access to community health workers (CHWs). NCHC). This workforce, although often overlooked, is a critical liaison between health and social service providers and individuals in the community, especially those who are older and experience barriers to care. It will help you improve.
CHWs are trained professionals in the community who coordinate personalized social and medical services and work to connect people with basic needs such as food and shelter. They empower patients and clients to make choices that improve their personal health and well-being. Research shows that CHWs not only reduce the burden on healthcare providers, but also reduce healthcare costs. Demonstrates up to $3 in return (ROI) for every $1 spent.
“CHWs are integrated into Harbor Care Health & Wellness Center through referrals from providers and community partners. They assist patients and community members by applying for health insurance and finding needed resources. We’re here to help,” said Magna Krieger, director of community health services at HarborCare Health & Wellness Center in Nashua.
“Additionally, CHWs are involved in patients' chronic care as health coaches, helping them address the social drivers of their health conditions so they can focus on getting and staying healthy. Through our partnerships with providers, we are able to provide services in the areas where they need help most,” Krieger explained.
NCHC collaborates with several partners in the region to implement CHW-NH initiatives including: New Hampshire Community Health Worker Coalition; New Hampshire Nurses Association, Southern New Hampshire Community Health Education Center (AHEC)) and Community Workforce Institute, Shuangzhou Primary Care Association, dartmouth hitchcock, local public health agencies, and other stakeholders through the CHW Statewide Workforce Group. The initiative will provide CHW training, work to build a sustainable CHW workforce, collaborate with stakeholders to develop CHW certification, and support statewide data collection.For example, the Community Workforce Institute currently offers free 4-part monthly training series Enabling healthcare providers to effectively integrate CHWs into practice
This CHW initiative is consistent with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) mission to integrate CHWs into health and social systems to complement provider care, reduce health care costs, and improve health outcomes. This supports New Hampshire's goal of supporting healthier people and improving outcomes. The well-being of people, especially those who are marginalized, socio-economically disadvantaged, and racial and ethnic minorities.
About NCHC and the CHW Initiative
of North Country Health Consortium (NCHC) is a nonprofit public health organization that works with health and human services providers and health care providers to improve health and wellness in New Hampshire. For more information about the Community Health Worker (CHW) Initiative, please visit: https://nhchw.org/chws-nh/.
Funding for the CHW Initiative comes from funds supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (HHS) under contract with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. Financial Assistance Award from CDC/HHS “NH Initiative Grant #NH750T000031 to Address COVID-19 Health Disparities.” The contents of this release do not necessarily represent or endorse the official views of CDC/HHS or the U.S. government. ”
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