Patient perceptions of a community-based care coordination system

Community health workers (CHWs) work with health professionals to improve health outcomes by facilitating community-based health education and increase access and continuity to health services within a community. Uninsured, low-income participants of a community-based program, Project Access Dallas, participated in focus group sessions for determining participants' perceptions of CHW effectiveness and participants' abilities to independently manage their health needs. Of the 95 adults invited, 24 (25.3%) attended. Participants reported that CHWs are an invaluable asset in learning how to navigate the health care system, obtaining appointments and being better able to care for themselves with CHW emotional/psychological support. Results suggest that CHWs in a case management model improved patient comprehension of health issues, patient navigation through a health care system, and patients' abilities to independently manage health issues. Implementation of CHWs within a case management model appears to be an effective mechanism for providing health services to underserved populations.