title: Community health workers as drivers of a successful community-based disease management initiative.
abstract: In 2005, local leaders in New York City developed the Washington Heights/Inwood Network for Asthma Program to address the burden of asthma in their community. Bilingual community health workers based in community organizations and the local hospital provided culturally appropriate education and support to families who needed help managing asthma. Families participating in the yearlong care coordination program received comprehensive asthma education, home environmental assessments, trigger reduction strategies, and clinical and social referrals. Since 2006, 472 families have enrolled in the yearlong program. After 12 months, hospitalizations and emergency department visits decreased by more than 50%, and caregiver confidence in controlling the child's asthma increased to nearly 100%. Key to the program's success was the commitment and involvement of community partners from program inception to date.
authors.affiliation: Community Health Outreach and Marketing Department, Ambulatory Care Network, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. pap9046@nyp.org
authors.forename: Patricia J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Peretz
authors.forename: Luz Adriana
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Matiz
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Findley
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lizardo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCord
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D019468:Disease Management; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006266:Health Education; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009519:New York City; D015397:Program Evaluation; D055818:Public-Private Sector Partnerships