Access to nutritious and affordable food plays a critical role in people’s overall health. To address this need, Saint Francis Hospital is testing a new approach that integrates community health workers (CHWs) into patient care teams through its Food as Medicine program. Funding from the Connecticut Health Foundation will support data collection and evaluation to assess the effectiveness of this model.
The Food as Medicine program is designed to improve access to healthy food and care coordination in areas of Hartford where resources may be limited and chronic health conditions are more common. Patients with uncontrolled hypertension will be referred to the program by their provider, where they will receive nutrition education, behavioral support, and assistance with social needs. CHWs as part of the patient’s care team will partner with Trinity Health’s Medical Group primary care practices to provide support in between patient’s primary care visits.
Through this effort, Saint Francis Hospital will expand the role of CHWs to offer more hands-on support for patients managing their own health. Trained in chronic disease management, CHWs will coach participants on how to monitor, track, and manage their blood pressure at home. A full evaluation of this initiative will be conducted, supported by a $50,000 grant from the Connecticut Health Foundation. The study will focus on how CHWs contribute to better health outcomes and potential cost savings.
“We know how valuable community health workers are in improving health outcomes,” said Tiffany Donelson, president and CEO of the Connecticut Health Foundation. “This evaluation will help to show the impact of having community health workers be fully integrated into a primary care team that addresses patients’ needs in a holistic way. We hope the findings will help other organizations better understand how to incorporate community health workers into their care teams for improved health outcomes.”
“At Trinity Health Of New England, we are evolving the role of community health workers to meet the growing needs of the people we serve,” said Carolyn Alessi, regional director of community health and well-being at Trinity Health Of New England, the parent organization of Saint Francis Hospital. “By broadening their focus to include chronic disease management and care coordination, we’re enhancing their contributions to our clinical teams. This work reflects Trinity Health’s enduring commitment to the common good promoting better health, supporting vulnerable populations, and advancing whole-person care for all.”
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