cambridge health alliance volunteer health advisor program volunteer health advisor program “a...

Cambridge Health Alliance Volunteer Health Advisor Program

Volunteer Health Advisor Program

“A bridge between the community

and the healthcare system”

Presented by Maude Guerrier

Department of Community Affairs

Cambridge Health Alliance

Cambridge Health Alliance - Who Are We:

• Academic Public Healthcare System

• Three cities (Somerville, Cambridge & Everett)

• Three acute care hospitals

• 20 primary sites

Community Affairs Department

MissionThe mission of the Community Affairs

Department is to improve the status of the communities served by Cambridge Health Alliance. We connect communities to clinical services, and bring clinical services to communities. Community Affairs programs focus on populations that face many barriers in accessing care.


VHA VisionTo maximize scarce health care

resources through establishment of a trained volunteer workforce that improves community health status.


VHA MissionTo improve community health by

working collaboratively with faith based and community based organizations to recruit, train, and support a sustainable volunteer workforce that provides culturally and linguistically appropriate health education and outreach to under-served and hard-to-reach populations.


Role of the VHAVolunteer Health Advisors (VHA)

provide information to the community on:

• Health education, including the importance of primary care

• How to navigate the health care system

• Insurance options for uninsured and underinsured

• Social services and how to access them


Recruitment of VHA Volunteers• Volunteers are well known, trusted,

and respected members of churches and communities.

• Churches are also key places where people, especially immigrants, find friends, support and comfort.


Convincing points to Clergy• Health education should be a part of

their church ministry

Convincing potential volunteers• The community needs you! • Being able to help make changes in

someone’s life is priceless• Opportunity for learning and continuing

education


Why use volunteers?• To create a sustainable program

• Use of incentives reduces program cost


Program Development• Identify community health concerns

• Formative Research- focus groups and key informant interviews


Training• Four core-training sessions

• 20-hour training program

• Four health modules

Training - Core Sessions• Empowerment and Communication• Health Access and Outreach• Public Health• Importance of Primary Care• Health Insurance Options


Training - Health Module• Chronic Disease and Acute Illness• Diabetes and Nutrition• Breast, Prostate and Testicular Cancer• Hypertension and Heart Disease• Cholesterol• Asthma• Stress and Mental Health• Tuberculosis: prevention and treatment• HIV & AIDS



Who are the VHAs?• Trained VHA come from three

communities (Brazilian, English American, Haitian and Latino) and six cities and towns.

• A total of 130 VHAs completed training and currently active.


VHA Activities• VHA’s referred 430 new patients to CHA for

health care services (active VHAs) from July 2002 to present.

• Provide basic health education one-on-one• Health presentations for groups on various

health topics• Health screening events• Support groups for patients with diabetes• Organize health fairs• Peer supervision

Other ways VHAs can be used• Home visits• Walking Groups • Asthma education for parents

(helping parents identify asthma triggers)

• Training of new VHA’s• HIV Support Groups• Domestic Violence Groups, etc.


6/2002 - 10/2003


ActiveVHAs

# SurveysCompleted

# GroupsTrained

HaitianCreole

75 49 4

Portuguese 30 26 1

Spanish 19 13 3

English 6 6 1

TOTAL 130 94 (72%) 9

Select Demographics

• Sex: 79% female, 21% male

• Age: from 18 to over 65, 1/3 are 31-40 years old, 1/3 are 41-50 years old

• Residence: from 15 different towns/cities, including cities outside of the CHA primary service area


Unspecified "other" (3)

Family Planning Counselor (1)

Home Health Aid (4)

Health Educator (1)

Mental Health (6)

Geriatric Services (2)

Billing & Customer Service (1)

Food Services (1)

No Response (3) Certified Nurse

Assistant (5)

Nurse (5)

Jobs related to Health Care ever held by VHAs, currently or in the past (N=32)

Total number of years each VHA has lived in the US (n = 78)*

more than 20 yrs10%

17 to 20 yrs6%

13 to 16 yrs12%

no response3% less than 1 year

4%

1 to 4 yrs36%

9 to 12 yrs19% 5 to 8 yrs

10%

*Haitian Creole group 1 (n=16) not asked this question.

Highest level of education completed by VHAs, in US and abroad (n = 94)

Less than high school18%

No response4%

Associate/2-year/junior college

11%

Bachelors degree16%

Masters degree6%

Special training/certification

10%

Doctorate/Ph.D./MD1%

Unspecified "other"1%

High school diploma or equivalent

33%


Additional VHA Program Areas• Specialist Project

• Continuing Education Program


VHA Activities• VHA’s referred 371 new patients to CHA for

health care services (active VHAs) from July 2002 to present

• Provide basic health education one-on-one• Health presentations for groups on various

health topics• Health screening events• Support groups for patients with diabetes• Organize health fairs• Peer supervision


Conclusion• VHAs to be certified.(Peer Helper

Assoc.)• Expand to Vietnamese Communities• Effective ways to connect to hard-to-

reach communities• Communities are accountable and are

equally receptive to this approach• Designing a program that is easy to

replicate and is culturally grouped


For more information on VHA Program:

Please contact Maude Guerrier (617) 591 - 6939

(617) 591 - 6949 [email protected]

cambridge health alliance volunteer health advisor program volunteer health advisor program “a...

Documents

health modules

community health status

clergy health education

appropriate health education

communication health

mental health tuberculosis

program cost slide

scarce health care resources