A Culture-Based Family-Centered Health Navigation Intervention for Chronic Disease Management in Native Hawaiians

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Health Equity

Background:

• Native Hawaiians face significant medical and psychological health disparities.
• Existing healthcare systems are transitioning to value-based care, increasing demand for cost-effective solutions.
• Cultural distress and socioeconomic factors exacerbate the need for accessible health and mental health services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss a culturally-based navigation framework for implementing a pilot program.
• To describe the intervention used in an integrated primary care setting.
• To examine lessons learned from the pilot program implementation.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a pilot program integrating community health navigators into a patient-centered medical home.
• Utilizing a culturally-based navigation framework.
• Focus on a preventive and responsive model of wellness.

Main Results:

• Pilot program implementation details and lessons learned are discussed.
• Outcomes data will be reported separately.
• The model aims to redesign clinical practice and improve healthcare utilization.

Conclusions:

• The integrated model with community health navigators has the potential to promote health equity for Native Hawaiians.
• This framework offers a reproducible model for other settings to improve healthcare access and outcomes.
• Culturally congruent care is essential for addressing the complex health needs of Native Hawaiian communities.