“Social determinants of health are stressors that relate to physical health.” So says Dr. Meredith Shockley-Smith, Executive Director of Cradle Cincinnati, Field Service Assistant Professor at UC Medical Center, and Founder of Queens Village. “And chronic, prolonged stress just magnifies [health] problems.” Consistent access to nutritious food, affordable and suitable housing, and transportation are just…
Getting to appointments can be the hardest part of staying current with medical care for Kia Davis’ clients. Davis is a Community Health Worker (CHW), who cares for pregnant mothers and children through Mercy Health. Mercy Health is a partner agency of the Southwest Ohio Pathways Community HUB, which Health Care Access Now directs. Davis…
Health Care Access Now (HCAN)’s clients often face obstacles—like lack of childcare or transportation—that keep them from seeing doctors regularly. In other words, they don’t have a medical home. Lynniece Scurry, Community Health Worker (CHW) for HCAN, says it’s important to help her clients find a primary care physician that can act as a medical home because…
When a person has a “medical home,” it means they have relationships with providers for all their health needs. They can see those providers for regular tests and preventative care, as well as when they’re experiencing health issues. Having a medical home isn’t just about establishing primary care, but also dental and vision care, OB-GYN…
A medical home is “when a patient sees a regular doctor, and the physician’s office has full knowledge of the client’s medical history,” says LaVerne Wiley. As a Registered Nurse, Wiley was instrumental in the development of the Community Health Worker (CHW) education and certification program at Health Care Access Now (HCAN). Although she retired…
During the first year Tessa Johnson worked as a paraprofessional for the Cincinnati Public School system, she felt overwhelmed. She knew the children she helped needed more than just school support. Understanding she couldn’t reach everyone was a tough pill to swallow. But she persevered, and now she gets messages from former students thanking her…
Dominique Johnson spent 12 years working as a nurse before she trained as a Community Health Worker for Health Care Access Now. “When you’re a nurse, you’re more hands-on [during health issues], but as a Community Health Worker, you can see the problems on the back end,” she says. That allows her to remedy the…
Kimberley Stephens likes to plant seeds in the community. “Sometimes you see the flower bloom, but sometimes you just know that the seeds have been planted and have the potential to grow,” she says. Stephens is the Manager of Prenatal Outreach for Mercy Health. “We’re in the communities working with women during the prenatal stage…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Healthcare Access Now is excited to announce that Mercy Health is a new partner in the HCAN Pathways Community Hub (Hub). HCAN is the Hub for the Cincinnati region. Agencies can partner with HCAN to implement the Hub model. The Hub model breaks down typical barriers to good health outcomes by identifying…
Lots of people want to make a difference in the world, but Jade Glover is actually doing it. She came to her current position as a Community Health Worker after spending 10 years working in a hospital. “I was about halfway through the nursing program when I realized I was on the wrong path for…
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