Author: iphiadmin

Decreased vaccination rates can also be attributed to a lack of accessibility, according to Bel Kelly-Russo, a program associate at ImmunizeVA, a project of the Institute for Public Health and Innovation.

It boils down to access: securing an appointment and affording the shot, Kelly-Russo said.

“I would say that there’s fatigue, kind of, on the system itself,” Kelly-Russo said, including confusion around vaccine billing and distribution.

For example, pediatric offices face high costs to store vaccines for those under the age of 5 years old, which have lower COVID-19 vaccination rates, according to Kelly-Russo.

Bel Kelly-Russo, IPHI’s program associate, discusses the potential reasons for a decrease in vaccine rates with the Virginian Pilot. 

Read the full article: Health officials urge Virginians to get their shots ahead of respiratory virus season

Mes a mes, Emely Baez-Salazar recibe con una sonrisa alentadora a personas de escasos recursos de los condados de Chesterfield y Richmond que requieren atención médica. Emely se comunica fluidamente en español y en inglés, para ayudar a residentes a comprender la importancia de las vacunas y cómo hacerse pruebas para detectar enfermedades crónicas, como, por ejemplo: presión arterial alta y diabetes. Si bien, una de sus prioridades es conectar a las personas para ayudarlas a vivir una vida más saludable usando los recursos disponibles; su primer objetivo es generar confianza, es decir, ayudar a las personas a comprender que ella es una aliada y que tienen a su disposición atención médica segura y confiable.

Báez-Salazar no es médico ni enfermera, sino una Promotora de Salud Certificada con experiencia integral en el sistema de salud. Ella tiene experiencia facilitando el uso del sistema electrónico de salud, especialmente a personas de bajos ingresos, y por ende vulnerables…

Visit El Tiempo Latino to read the full article: Los promotores de salud comunitaria (CHW) son la clave para una Virginia más saludable

(September 29, 2023) WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Senator Bob Casey, Jr., and Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. introduced a resolution designating the week of August 28 – September 1 as “National Community Health Worker Awareness Week.” U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal, Kirsten Gillibrand, Mazie Hirono, and Alex Padilla co-sponsored the resolution in the Senate.

“I am proud to introduce a House Resolution to establish the inaugural National Community Health Worker Awareness Week in partnership with the Senate. It is about time we shine a light on the invaluable contributions of community health workers and promotoras in our communities,” said Rep. Dr. Raul Ruiz. “The…

Read the full release: here.

If your doctor said, “There are comorbidities that will affect your outcome,” many people would not understand what that means or what they need to do to change their outcome. Fortunately, Virginia has an important group of people making healthcare services more accessible and understandable: Community Health Workers.

This week happens to be Community Health Worker (CHW) Awareness Week, a first-ever national observance to raise awareness about the role of CHWs in the healthcare system and their impact. These caring and committed professionals – also known as outreach workers, family advocates and promotores de salud and other titles – are making a positive mark in Virginia and beyond. 

CHWs are not clinicians, nor are they social workers. They are one part advocate, one part coach, and one part teacher. Most importantly, as they are acting in all of these parts, CHWs are considered a trusted source of information. CHWs serve as….

Visit the Virginia Mercury to read the full article: Community health workers: behind-the-scenes heroes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as a “lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.” Large swaths of Greater Washington faced some level of food insecurity in 2021, according to the Capital Area Food Bank’s 2022 Hunger report…

Julia Groenfeldt, IPHI’s program manager, discusses filling in the gaps to improve access to healthy foods in a Q&A with Washington Business Journal.

Read the full article: Prince George’s Officals Aim to Improve Access to Healthy Foods

What is community power-building, and what is its impact on reducing disparities? It highlights and accentuates the voices of community members and organizations most affected by decisions that ultimately affect health and health equity.

Mike Royster, IPHI’s vice president, joins the Public Health Alliance‘s PHA Power Bites series to discuss “The Role of Community Power-Building in Reducing Disparities.” 

Watch the full video: PHA Power Bites #3 Mike Royster and Melissa Fox