Two-Part Best Practice Brief Series Begins April 30, 2024
Community health workers are a trusted resource for individuals navigating unfamiliar or stressful health care situations. These frontline public health workers use their understanding of cultures and communities to connect people with needed health care and social services. A two-part Best Practice Brief series titled, “Integrating and Sustaining Community Health Workers in Clinic Practice”, is being hosted by the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care to emphasize the value of the CHW network for improving positive health outcomes and the patient experience.
Ben Tiensvold, community outreach coordinator for the Community Health Worker Collaborative of South Dakota (CHWSD) and Christine Arnold, MD, from Sanford Health Mitchell Clinic will share valuable insights and guidance for integrating and sustaining CHWs in clinic practice.
- Sustaining the CHW Workforce through Medicaid/Medicare Reimbursement
April 30, 2024, 1:00 PM Central Time
Ben Tiensvold, CHWSD
- Integrating CHWs into a Medical Practice
May 7, 2024, 1:00 PM Central Time
Christine Arnold, MD, Sanford Health Mitchell Clinic
CHWs often work with underserved or high-risk patients to address gaps in care, social determinants of health, and health related social needs. This series will explain the CHW role and scope of service and explain how to sustain this workforce through Medicaid and Medicare reimbursement. Participants will hear about the successes and challenges of integrating CHWs into clinic practice and be provided with examples of improved patient experience and reduced cost of care.
The CHWSD website includes resources, information on certification, training and education, and a collection of toolkits to supporting integration and sustainability. The South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care (SDFMC) is contracted to advance the CHWSD mission to promote, support, and sustain the CHW profession in South Dakota.