Community health worker training and certification programs in the United States: Findings from a national survey
Community health worker training and certification programs in the United States: Findings from a national survey
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DOI：
10.1016/j.healthpol.2006.02.010
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发表时间：
2007-01-01
期刊：
影响因子：
3.3
通讯作者：
Tai-Seale, Ming
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Kash, Bita Arbab;May, Marlynn Lee;Tai-Seale, Ming
目的：分析美国部分社区卫生工作者(CHW)培训和认证项目的职业发展趋势和各种方法。我们检查了不同培训和认证项目的预期结果和目标，这些培训和认证项目与个人和社区相关。方法：对社区卫生工作人员培训和认证项目进行全国调查。数据收集通过个人访谈、电话采访和焦点小组进行。数据来源包括公共卫生官员、医疗保健协会、CHW网络、社区学院和服务提供商。最初的筛选访谈导致对19个州的参与者进行了深入访谈。我们应用人力资本理论的概念来分析每个州收集的丰富的定性数据。结果：美国社区卫生服务项目的启动似乎主要是因为在文化、经济和地理上与世隔绝的社区缺乏获得医疗服务的机会。从全国调查的结果中发现了CHW劳动力发展的三个趋势：(1)社区大学水平的学校教育-提供职业发展机会；(2)在职培训-提高护理、CHW收入和留住标准；(3)州一级的认证-认可CHW的工作，并促进CHW服务的医疗补助报销。结论：研究结果为CHW知识和技能改进方法提供了机会，这些方法可以针对特定的个人职业、服务机构或社区水平的目标。经过培训和/或认证的社区卫生工作者是一种潜在的新型和熟练的卫生保健劳动力，可以帮助改善美国服务不足人群的卫生保健获取和利用。(C)2006爱思唯尔爱尔兰有限公司。保留所有权利。
Objective: To analyze trends and various approaches to professional development in selected community health worker (CHW) training and certification programs in the United States. We examined the expected outcomes and goals of different training and certification programs related to individual CHWs as well as the community they serve.Method: A national survey of CHW training and certification programs. Data collection was performed through personal interviews, phone interviews and focus groups. Data sources included public health officials, healthcare associations, CHW networks, community colleges, and service providers. Initial screening interviews resulted in in-depth interviews with participants in 19 states. We applied human capital theory concepts to the analysis of the rich qualitative data collected in each state.Results: CHW programs in the U.S. seem to have been initiated mainly due to lack of access to healthcare services in culturally, economically, and geographically isolated communities. Three trends in CHW workforce development were identified from the results of the national survey: (1) schooling at the community college level-provides career advancement opportunities; (2) on-the-job training-improves standards of care, CHW income, and retention; and (3) certification at the state level-recognizes the work of CHWs, and facilitates Medicaid reimbursement for CHW services.Conclusion: Study findings present opportunities for CHW knowledge and skill improvement approaches that can be targeted at specific individual career, service agency, or community level goals. Trained and/or certified community health workers are a potential new and skilled healthcare workforce that could help improve healthcare access and utilization among underserved populations in the United States. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.