Care Coordination
Central Ohio Pathways HUB Joins Statewide Network of Certified Pathways HUBs
In Ohio, there are currently 10 Pathways Community HUB Institute Certified HUBs (HUBs). These HUBs have created a statewide network in order to support, grow, and sustain their model, with the goal of achieving health equity for all people in Ohio.
HUBs are built for and by the communities each serves. Regional organizations work to receive certification, then act as that area’s HUB.
The HUB model is an evidence-based system that helps trained Community Health Workers (CHWs) perform field work in vulnerable communities to identify and eliminate characteristic barriers to clients’ good health outcomes. Typical obstacles include food insecurity, lack of transportation access, and housing instability.
Outside health care agencies partner with regional HUBs to benefit from CHW training and certification, field support, and data.
Managed by the Healthcare Collaborative of Greater Columbus (HCGC), the Central Ohio Pathways HUB (the HUB) acts as the Central Ohio regional HUB, training, certifying, and dispatching CHWs to use the model in order to reduce health care inequity in under-resourced communities.
The 10 Pathways Community HUB Institute Certified HUBs (HUBs) in Ohio have banded together to form a network, with the goal of supporting, growing, and sustaining the HUB model in the state.
HCGC took over management of the HUB in March of 2019, taking over the evidence-based system that guides Community Health Workers (CHWs) as they perform field work to identify and eliminate characteristic barriers to under-resourced clients’ good health outcomes. HCGC trains, certifies, and dispatches CHWs to use the HUB model in order to reduce health care inequity in vulnerable communities. Outside health care agencies, such as local health departments, federally qualified health centers, and other health and social service agencies, partner with HCGC to benefit from CHW training and certification, field support, and data.
At the core of the HUB model is the idea that social determinants affect health. When CHWs work with clients using the model, they tailor a plan to fit each individual’s specific needs across age, race, culture, geographic location, and gender. By recognizing obstacles to health—such as food insecurity or lack of reliable transportation—CHWs are able to connect clients to community-based resources that can improve health outcomes.
“The HUB has proven its effectiveness in making a substantial difference in clients’ lives,” says Jenelle Hoseus, Executive Director of the HUB. “By creating a network of Ohio HUBs, we will be able to collaborate on projects, such as providing education regarding the HUB model and Community Health Workers with government and policy leaders.”
The network will also allow the Ohio HUBs to amplify its united voice, scale innovation, and share technical assistance, support, and best practices with one another. The ultimate goal for the network is to achieve health equity for all people in Ohio.
“Rather than each of us working separately but diligently at the same goal in our own areas of the state, we can pool our knowledge and collaborate to have a greater impact on eliminating racial health inequity,” says Hoseus.
Since March of 2019, CHWs in the Central Ohio Pathways HUB have provided care coordination to 2,527 clients, completing over 12,200 connections to care and services. Overall, 192 CHWs from Ohio HUBs served 4,036 clients in those programs in 2020. HCGC and the HUB look forward to a fruitful collaboration with the other Ohio HUBS and making ever greater strides in its shared mission.
