PNs and CHWs have specific roles and scope of practice with a mission to work in and with the community and/or medical setting to improve health. The literature and data suggests that PN and CHW do make an impact in improve health outcomes.  

"Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much"

 - Helen Keller

The word "vulnerable" can describe many different types of populations - from those with limited access to care or lack of insurance, to those with a language barrier or new to the United States. The South Metro Health Alliance (SMHA) evolved as the health and wellness arm of the Littleton Immigrant Integration Initiative, an organization dedicated to making a new country feel like home to recently relocated individuals.

Full Article 

Patient navigators are a new addition to the health care workforce that is helping with non-clinical duties such as supporting patient communication and helping patients navigate the financial and logistical challenges of the health care system. The additional support from patient navigators is helping patients make significant strides in adherence and wellness. 

  Full Article

A new bill introduced in both the House and Senate (HR 1343, S 688) would amend the current hospital readmission calculation to take the socioeconomic status of the patient population into account when calculating readmission rates for Medicare penalties. 

HR 1343 

Since the Institute of Medicine called attention to the role of equity in ensuring health care quality, many health care organizations have pursued broad initiatives such as establishing medical homes, implementing electronic medical records, and eliminating hospital-acquired infections to try to improve equity in service provision