title: Navigating to health: Evaluation of a community health center patient navigation program.
abstract: Patient Navigators are trained, lay health care workers who guide patients in overcoming barriers to health care access and utilization. Little evidence exists regarding reach and impact of Patient Navigators for chronic disease management. This study evaluated a Patient Navigator program aimed at optimizing health care utilization among ethnically diverse patients with diabetes and/or hypertension at a community health center (CHC). Trained Patient Navigators contacted eligible patients who had not seen a primary care provider (PCP) for ≥ 6 months. Outcomes included number of patients reached by Patient Navigators and seen by PCPs after Patient Navigator contact. Distributions and frequencies of outcomes pre- and post-call were compared. A total of 215 patients had ≥ 1 call attempt from Patient Navigators. Of these, 74 were additionally contacted via mailed letters or at the time of a CHC visit. Among the 45 patients reached, 77.8% scheduled an appointment through the Patient Navigator. These patients had higher rates of PCP visits 6 months post-call (90%) than those not reached (42.2%) (p < 0.0001). Findings emphasize the value of direct telephone contact in patient health care re-engagement and may inform the development of future Patient Navigator programs to improve reach and effectiveness.
authors: Boston University School of Public Health, Department of Community Health Sciences, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, United States.
authors: Monica L
authors: ML
authors: Wang
authors: Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, 650 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01605, United States.
authors: Leah
authors: L
authors: Gallivan
authors: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, United States.
authors: Stephenie C
authors: SC
authors: Lemon
authors: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, United States.
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Borg
authors: Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, 650 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01605, United States.
authors: Jose
authors: J
authors: Ramirez
authors: Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, 650 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01605, United States.
authors: Brenda
authors: B
authors: Figueroa
authors: Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center, 650 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01605, United States.
authors: Antonia
authors: A
authors: McGuire
authors: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Department of Medicine, Division of Preventive and Behavioral Medicine, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, United States.
authors: Milagros C
authors: MC
authors: Rosal
keywords: Community health center; Patient engagement; Patient navigator; Program evaluation