A. Witmer et al., COMMUNITY-HEALTH WORKERS - INTEGRAL MEMBERS OF THE HEALTH-CARE WORK-FORCE, American journal of public health, 85(8), 1995, pp. 1055-1058
As the US health care system strives to function efficiently, encourag
e preventive and primary care, improve quality, and overcome nonfinanc
ial barriers to care, the potential exists for community health worker
s to further these goals. Community health workers can increase access
to care and facilitate appropriate use of health resources by providi
ng outreach and cultural linkages between communities and delivery sys
tems; reduce costs by providing health education, screening, detection
, and basic emergency care; and improve quality by contributing to pat
ient-provider communication, continuity of care, and consumer protecti
on. Information sharing, program support, program evaluation, and cont
inuing education are needed to expand the use of community health work
ers and better integrate them into the health care delivery system.