09/04/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/04/2024 16:05
With more than 250 Community Health Workers, NYC Health + Hospitals has built one of the largest health system-based community health worker programs in the country
In a testimonial, cancer patient Neville Facey describes how a community health worker helped him with appointments, transportation, and financial assistance
Sep 04, 2024
NYC Health + Hospitals today announced that over 25,000 patients have worked closely with Community Health Workers since the program's launch in 2021. Community Health Workers meet regularly with patients to identify and address barriers to health and well-being, such as housing, financial, food, and legal needs, as well as helping them schedule health care appointments and coordinate transportation. With more than 250 Community Health Workers, NYC Health + Hospitals has built one of the largest health system-based Community Health Worker programs in the country. In a testimonial, patient Neville Facey describes how a Community Health Worker helped him with appointments, transportation, and financial assistance. Community Health Workers are part of the primary care team at all of NYC Health + Hospitals' 11 hospitals, 6 of its Gotham Health sites, and Virtual ExpressCare and they often come from the communities they serve. They can meet patients in the clinic, in the community, or at home depending on the patient's preference. The program is open to patients regardless of immigration or insurance status. NYC Health + Hospitals' Community Health Worker Program was launched in September 2021 as part of the NYC Public Health Corps, which also includes the NYC Health Department's Neighborhood Health Corps.
The health system's Arts in Medicine department has worked with The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to highlight the important work of supporting community health workers. Last night, the museum hosted a panel featuring the artist LaToya Ruby Frazier and health system staff to discuss the role of community health workers and premiered a new short film by Pete Ho featuring community health workers. Earlier this year, Frazier gave health system staff a guided tour of her exhibition, Monuments of Solidarity, which features an artwork that celebrates and uplifts the stories of community health workers in Baltimore during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"CHWs have become an integral part of the way we deliver care at NYC Health + Hospitals. They are an incredible resource to our patients that allows us to treat our patients holistically, addressing both their medical and social needs in a patient-centered way. It has been an honor to work with MoMA and LaToya Ruby Frazier to bring the work of CHWs to the forefront," said NYC Health + Hospitals Chief Population Health Officer Dr. Nichola Davis.
"Arts in Medicine is honored to collaborate with MoMA on this important event highlighting our Community Health Workers. This is significant because it builds a connection between two significant NYC institutions - MoMA and NYC Health + Hospitals - each one treasured as integral to our city, but which often feel like they belong to very different worlds. Artists like LaToya Ruby Frazier use their activism and voice to illuminate the work of essential workers and in doing so to advancing their role in health care paradigms," said Larissa W. Trinder, Assistant Vice President of NYC Health + Hospitals Arts in Medicine.
NYC Health + HospitalsCommunity Health Workers serve adult patients, families with young children, adult and pediatric patients with Asthma/COPD, and adult patients with special needs, such as experiencing homelessness, involvement in the criminal-legal system, and behavioral health conditions.
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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation. We are a network of 11 hospitals, trauma centers, neighborhood health centers, nursing homes, and post-acute care centers. We are a home care agency and a health plan, MetroPlus. Our health system provides essential services to more than one million New Yorkers every year in more than 70 locations across the city's five boroughs. Our diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About NYC Health + Hospitals' Arts in Medicine Department
The Arts in Medicine department at NYC Health + Hospitals seeks to foster the emotional well-being and promote healing and wellness for all patients and their families, employees, and the greater community by utilizing the arts, including literary, visual, and performing arts throughout the health care system. In addition to managing the system's significant visual arts collection, the Arts in Medicine department encourages evidenced based practices and provides technical assistance to all of the system's health care facilities and clinics. This is accomplished by combining artistic innovation and education into a comprehensive health care continuum that supports the healing benefits of the arts. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/artsinmedicine/.