2026 Southeastern Residency Conference

Title: Assessing the Implementation of a Community Health Worker Program at a Community Clinic
 
Authors: Ryan Grady, Pharm.D., Courtney E. Gamston, Pharm.D., Linda Gibson-Young, Ph.D., FNP-C, RHN-C, MBA, FAANP, Amy Pridemore BSN, MA, MSN, DNP, FNP-C, David Redden, Ph.D., Kimberly Braxton Lloyd, Pharm.D. 

Background:  
Community Health Workers (CHWs) serve as bridges between healthcare systems and underserved populations, helping connect individuals to preventive services, chronic disease management, and social resources. Underserved communities face barriers to healthcare access, continuity of care, and clinic-based services. To address this, a newly initiated (2022) primary care and women’s health clinic with dispensing pharmacy implemented a CHW program designed to extend the reach of clinical services through interacting with the community and providing education and referrals. Evaluating the implementation of this initiative is important for determining its potential to enhance community engagement and inform future expansion.
 
Methods:  
This project uses the RE-AIM framework to evaluate Reach, the extent to which the program engaged the community, and Effectiveness, evaluating how well the CHW were able to engage the local community. Data was collected from CHW field notes and clinic documentation. Community-based activity data included date, time, location, nature of touchpoint, number of interactions, types of interactions, educational or referral interventions, and challenges encountered. Clinic-level activities included the number of CHW-generated referral appointments,  total clinic visits before and after CHWs implementation, and the number and proportion of clinic events scheduled and/or staffed by the CHWs.  Descriptive analyses were used to summarize program activities and assess feasibility and effectiveness. 

Results:
In Progress

Conclusions:
In Progress