Roles and Functions of Community Health Workers in Primary Care

Area of Science:

• Primary Care
• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Community health workers (CHWs) are recognized for their potential to improve primary care access and quality.
• Despite their potential, CHWs are often underutilized in primary care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the diverse roles and functions of CHWs within primary care settings.
• To provide evidence-based guidance for the effective integration of CHWs into primary care.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review and synthesis of 30 studies was conducted.
• Analysis focused on identifying specific functions and broader roles performed by CHWs.

Main Results:

• Twelve distinct functions were identified: care coordination, health coaching, social support, health assessment, resource linking, case management, medication management, remote care, follow-up, administration, health education, and literacy support.
• Three primary roles emerged: clinical services, community resource connections, and health education and coaching.

Conclusions:

• The identified functions and roles provide a framework for understanding CHW contributions to primary care.
• Findings have implications for developing targeted training programs and clinical support structures for CHWs to optimize their integration and impact.