RWJBarnabas Health’s Community Health Worker (CHW) Program embeds people in and of communities in Newark, Jersey City, West Orange, New Brunswick and Elizabeth, to serve as a critical part of the continuum of care as resources for vulnerable individuals. The CHWs are tasked with following up with patients pre- and post-discharge to make sure they are living in healthy environments, able to schedule and secure transportation to physician visits, eating healthy food and getting – and using – their medications. These important follow-ups are being conducted by CHWs up to 120 days after discharge.
RWJBarnabas Health’s CHWs are embedded in hospitals, homeless shelters and on the ground in communities in order to reach people most effectively and establish trust. Each CHW is trained by a program in partnership with the New Jersey Department of Health and Essex County Community College.
From November 1, 2023 to January 21, 2025, the health system’s Community Health Workers:
- Interacted with 62,050 patients
- Enrolled 38,834 patients
- Completed MyChart enrollments with 2,743 patients
- Screened 23,577 patients for social determinants of health
- Participated in nearly 75 community health events
- Facilitated over 39,000 Uber Health rides for patients
This year, RWJBarnabas Health continues to expand its CHW program to reach other communities in the state.
Learn more about Social Impact and Community Investment at RWJBarnabas Health.