CP21 - CHWs as integral patient care team members in promoting asthma self-management through health-center and home-based interventions

Poster Type: Innovation

Category: Expanding Access to Care and Other Services

Issue or Challenge: In the Bronx, age adjusted asthma mortality rate in 2015 was nearly three times higher in the Bronx than in NYC overall per 100,000 (3.9 vs. 1.8). Asthma hospitalization among youth and adults in the Bronx is 28.3 per 10,000 residents which is double the rate in NYC (11.4 per 10,000). Many hospitalizations for asthma can be prevented by addressing home based asthma triggers, including cockroaches, mice, second hand smoke, dust mites and pets. Enhanced medical management of asthma coupled with trigger remediation, and better self-management techniques have been proven to make a significant impact.

Description of Innovation: In 2019, Bronx Community Health Network launched a pilot Community Health Worker (CHW) led asthma home-based program to reduce exposure to home-based triggers and promote asthma management among patients at a community health center in the Bronx. One year later, the program has been replicated to another health center.

Impact or Result: Community Health workers have offered the program to 605 patients: 532 (88%) received asthma education; 119 (22%) of patients who CHWs educated, expressed interest in the home visit component of the program; 98 (82%) of those who expressed interest in home visit scheduled home visits; and 53 (54%) of those with home visit schedule completed at least one home visit with 81% (44) qualifying for referrals to comprehensive Integrated Pest Management services.

Replicating this Innovation: BCHN has developed a model of integration that can be seamlessly replicated at any organization with the appropriate resources. After piloting at one community health center for 7 months BCHN successfully replicated the program at another health center serving an expanded population. Leveraging existing resources to facilitate Asthma Educator Certification also equipped BCHN to be subject matter experts to train other organizations working with Community Health Workers to address asthma.

Author(s):

Damiris Perez, MPA, Grants and Program Developer, Bronx Community Health Network