Johns Hopkins Medicine Community Health Workers Meet Patients Where They Are (2024)

When Robert Gibson needed eye surgery, he was referred to the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center’s eye care facility. There, Gibson was connected with the Johns Hopkins community care team to assist with his medical issues and transportation needs.

“When they came to my house, they sat with me for a long time talking,” he says. “They helped me fill out different forms because I couldn’t see some of the forms too well. They were so nice.”

As Amanda Toohey, the senior project manager of population health for Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center’s community health worker training program, explains, these workers are trained by the state at the medical center. The program has certified more than 100 people — two are now contributing to patient care as part of the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center’s community care team.

“Community health work is rapidly growing,” says Toohey. “They are nonclinical health professionals who help people navigate health challenges. Social determinants of health can be a huge barrier, so community health workers provide education, applications and information. They connect patients with more resources and help them find affordable things. The goal is to empower the patients and give them the tools they need to succeed. We want to make sure there’s a system in place so patients can advocate for themselves.”

Toohey says it is vital for community health workers to be involved with and integrated into their communities.

“These are folks who are members of the communities they service and speak the patient’s language literally and figuratively,” Toohey says. “They strive to explain things in an understandable way. They’re able to build trust with the patients because they get to know them and understand what hesitations they might have.”

Gibson’s community health worker, Sandy Roschli, is at the heart of his care team. He says she is extremely supportive.

Before working with Roschli, Gibson was already connected to a care team at MedStar Health. He meets regularly with a social worker, a nurse, and a doctor. They work in tandem with the Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center’s community care team.

“I appreciate the support from everyone,” Gibson says. “Sandy is a nice woman. She follows up every week with me and makes sure I have everything I’m supposed to have. A lot of times, I forget about my appointments. She calls and reminds me, which I appreciate a lot. She also brought me a calendar and put all my appointments in there, so then I started putting them in myself.”

Roschli explains that she was trained to address the entire spectrum that determines health outcomes: housing, food and medical care. Community health workers act as bridges when patients are discharged from a hospital. After an initial assessment, they find out what the person’s needs are and if there are barriers to wellness. They help ensure the needs are being met, and if patients need support, community health workers put it in place. Roschli says the community care team strives to work collaboratively with other social services.

“We’re here to make sure that when you go home, you are getting the medical care, community services and support you need,” she says. “We work with the clients for up to 90 days. Our goal is to give people the tools they need to better manage how they’re functioning in the community. Sometimes, you have to get creative. If one door closes, we look for what other door we can open and try to overcome barriers to care. We help the clients to take small steps so as not to overwhelm them. We’re not here to tell people what they should or shouldn’t do. We’re just here for support.”

Roschli’s undergraduate degree is in gerontology from Towson University, and she was recently accepted into the Master of Social Work program at the University of Maryland. Roschli worked in the social services field for several years before becoming a community health worker. She has also been a licensed child care provider and a stay-at-home mother. Now that her children are teenagers, the community health worker program has provided an opportunity for her professional growth.

“I really love helping people, and I love helping the aging population,” Roschli says.

Her supervisor, Joey Lee, says Roschli has played an essential role in a grant-funded diabetes self-management training program. She often engages patients at the bedside and refers them to diabetes educators. Roschli conducts weekly follow-ups with each patient.

“When the patients stay healthy and connected to the needed resources, we will call it a success,” Lee says. “Sandy is always on top of following up with clients and ensuring their needs are met. She is a strong advocate for the patients and always has their well-being as her ultimate goal.”

For more information about the community health worker training program, visit hopkinsmedicine.org/johns-hopkins-howard-county/services/population-health/community-care-team/chw-training-program.

Johns Hopkins Medicine Community Health Workers Meet Patients Where They Are (2024)

FAQs

How are New Mexico's community health workers helping to meet patients' needs? ›

In New Mexico, community health workers link vulnerable residents to organizations that address the need for stable housing, legal assistance, and job training. New Mexico uses Medicaid funding, grant support, and local tax dollars to deploy community health workers in various settings to support low-income residents.

Why is Johns Hopkins Hospital so prestigious? ›

Patient-Centered Care: At the heart of the hospital's success is its unwavering commitment to patient-centered care. The "Johns Hopkins Protocol" is a widely recognized standard in healthcare delivery, emphasizing a holistic approach to patient well-being.

What is Johns Hopkins Community Physicians? ›

Johns Hopkins Community Physicians: a team of skilled providers that care for patients and families across more than 40 locations in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

What is another name for a community health worker? ›

Community health workers go by many titles, depending on where they work, who they work for and what they do. Common titles include health coach, community health advisor, family advocate, health educator, liaison, promoter, outreach worker, peer counselor, patient navigator, health interpreter and public health aide.

What are the core competencies of the New Mexico CHW? ›

What are the required competencies? A. The CHW Profession, Effective Communication, Interpersonal skills, Health Coaching, Service Coordination, Advocacy, Technical Teaching, Community Health Outreach, Community Knowledge & Assessment.

What are the advantages of including local community health workers CHW in the global health workforce? ›

Bridging community and health and welfare services

CHWs can serve as a bridge between the formal health system and vulnerable communities, helping their colleagues, such as nurses and doctors, better understand the patients they serve and prioritize their time addressing more complex medical problems.

Is Johns Hopkins as good as an Ivy? ›

From the perspective of an international student at Hopkins, I'd say on-par with the Ivy League schools (and Ivy+) for prestige. It seems to me that outside the US, its prestige is actually higher than within.

What is Johns Hopkins Medicine known for? ›

Johns Hopkins School of Medicine is the home of many medical advancements and contributions, including the first of many to admit women and to introduce rubber gloves, which provided a sterile approach to conducting surgical procedures.

What is the most popular major at Johns Hopkins? ›

Annually, Johns Hopkins University grants about 168 degrees to those majoring in Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology, which is the institution's most popular major.

Is Johns Hopkins Medicine the same as Johns Hopkins University? ›

Johns Hopkins Medicine integrates the operations and planning of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine with the Johns Hopkins Health System and Hospital.

How do I become a patient at Johns Hopkins? ›

Fill out our online form to pre-register for your visit. Please note that patients must register at the Main Registration in addition to completing this form. Pre-registration is not available for the emergency department or the behavioral health unit.

Who funds John Hopkins medicine? ›

Johns Hopkins Drug Discovery is financially supported by a number of organizations ranging from federal and state agencies to industrial partners. We value each and every one of our sponsors, striving to make a difference in the lives of patients by developing new therapeutics.

What are the two types of community health workers? ›

CHWs may include individuals known by a variety of job titles, including promotores, community health representatives, navigators, and other non-licensed public health workers, including violence prevention professionals.

Which has three qualities of a chw? ›

Trust, respect, and dignity for all human beings are core values among CHWs, and these public health workers are central to efforts to address clinical and community integration and the social determinants of health.

Why do you want to be a community health worker? ›

Answer: 1. I was drawn to a career as a Community Health Worker due to my passion for healthcare and commitment to serving underserved communities. I have a deep desire to make a tangible impact on people's lives, especially those who may not have easy access to quality healthcare. Question #2.

How does Mexico provide health care? ›

Mexico's public healthcare operates through the Instituto Mexicano de Seguro Social (IMSS) and Seguro Popular systems. These cover patients for most medical services and prescription drugs.

How accessible is healthcare in Mexico? ›

Currently, 2.3% of the population is insured through the private sector while over 32 million Mexicans (26.5%) have no access to any form of healthcare.

How is healthcare provided in Mexico? ›

Public healthcare has an elaborate provisioning and delivery system instituted by the Mexican government. It is provided to all Mexican citizens, as guaranteed by Article 4 of the Constitution. Public care is fully or partially subsidized by the federal government, depending upon the person's employment status.

How do healthcare workers contribute to society? ›

They diagnose, treat and comfort people in ill-health. As leaders in society and healthcare, they are trusted and able to promote daily practices and overarching policies that can connect the daily conditions of people's lives to their chances of recovery from ill-health.

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