Rafus, Brandon
(2016)
Community health workers: a public health busieness case.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
![[img]](https://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/style/images/fileicons/application_msword.png) |
Microsoft Word (MHA essay)
Submitted Version
Available under License : See the attached license file.
Download (78kB)
|
![[img]](https://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/style/images/fileicons/text_plain.png) |
Plain Text (licence)
Available under License : See the attached license file.
Download (1kB)
|
Abstract
Community health workers (CHW) epitomize public health significance from quality, policy, and economic standpoints. CHWs increase the quality of community health by functioning as a common thread between Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and clinical initiatives within health systems. Hence, opportunities for best practices actualize in accordance with a vision of optimal attainment of health. CHWs influence broader policy legislation by engaging communities to identify paramount concerns faced, using their platform to voice concerns to authoritative decision makers on local, state, and national levels. CHWs influence economic sustainability pertaining to health care utilization by utilizing their social capital, which oftentimes is extremely costly to develop and maintain in workforce development. As paraprofessionals, they also are a low cost solution for post-discharge care within an interdisciplinary team. Moreover, CHWs enable a transformation of previous ideological constructs concerning community health, and help to shape the health behaviors of their constituents. The following essay critically examines public health implications associated with CHW interventions used to meet needs of patients enrolled in special needs plans (SNPs). In addition, I have chosen to include specific suggestions for UPMC Health Plan to emphasize immediate impacts of CHW interventions as a business case when utilizing regulatory and clinical competence. These suggestions are based off of my experience as UPMC Health Plan’s Administrative Resident. Practical themes of interest discussed such as CHW incorporation, CHW training and return on investment (ROI) rely on the support of evidence-based literature accordingly. Lastly, I collectively provide recommendations for prospective CHW roles within UPMC Health Plan that possess long-term public health implications.
Share
| Citation/Export: |
|
| Social Networking: |
|
Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
| Creators | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Rafus, Brandon | | | |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Friede, Samuel | friede@pitt.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Finegold, David N | dnf@pitt.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | | UNSPECIFIED | Prushnok, Ray | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | | UNSPECIFIED | Lovelace, John G | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED |
|
| Date: |
31 March 2016 |
| Date Type: |
Submission |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Publisher: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Health Policy & Management |
| Degree: |
MHA - Master of Health Administration |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Date Deposited: |
07 Sep 2016 17:04 |
| Last Modified: |
20 Dec 2018 00:56 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/27536 |
Metrics
Monthly Views for the past 3 years
Plum Analytics
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
![[feed]](/images/feed-icon-32x32.png){kind=icon}