MI Repurposes COVID Test Sites for Community Health Worker Care Access

As the United States nears the end of its COVID-19 emergency declarations, Michigan's Health Department has repurposed old COVID-19 testing sites for a pilot program, leveraging community health workers (CHWs) to address local health needs and maintain patient care access.

CHWs have emerged as unsung heroes for patient care access, experts have mentioned.

These non-clinical laypeople are charged with providing patient navigation services and other forms of patient support. By sharing shared experiences by way of ethnicity, language, or income level, CHWs are able to establish meaningful connections with traditionally underserved communities.

Bridging the gap between healthcare providers and traditionally underserved communities, CHWs can help connect individuals to the medical care they may have otherwise gone without.

“We must take every opportunity we have to bring access to health care to residents where and when they need it,” Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive at Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), said in a press release. “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.”

According to the MDHHS press release, CHWs will provide on-demand referral services to well-being resources, such as behavioral health and social services.

At participating locations, visitors can consult with on-site CHWs for assistance in accessing community resources, including food, housing support, utility assistance, and healthcare enrollment.

Additionally, 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 also aim to offer patient education on managing chronic conditions like hypertension and diabetes and promoting healthy lifestyles and habits.

"Based on lessons learned and best practices established over the last few years, it is important to continue our work to address racial disparities across social determinants of health,” said the Hon. Thomas Stallworth, director of the Racial Disparities Task Force and the Governor’s senior advisor for Legislative and External Affairs. “This includes expanding community hubs, enhancing services and public health programs, and providing referrals to resources where it is most convenient for our more vulnerable community members.”

While 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 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.