Connecting Patients & Providers
for Better Health Outcomes
All people in the Columbus region deserve to have the best healthcare experience possible—one that is high-quality, well-coordinated, and affordable.
To achieve the best health outcomes requires the acknowledgement that there are multiple factors that contribute to an individual’s health, including social determinants like culture, race, income, and education level. The reality is, thousands of our most vulnerable and high-risk individuals in greater Columbus are seeking care and assistance from hundreds of medical, behavioral health, education, employment, and social service organizations. It is necessary in this effort to streamline the process, connecting information for all stakeholders who are trying to impact the healthcare experience in our region. Click here to access our HUB informational document. WHAT IS THE CENTRAL OHIO PATHWAYS HUB? The Healthcare Collaborative of Greater Columbus manages the Central Ohio Pathways HUB. Different from other referral networks or programs in Ohio, the HUB tracks risks, connections and outcomes via “pathways” and a specialized technology system. Community Health Workers (CHWs) working at Care Coordination Agencies (CCAs) work hand-in-hand with clients enrolled in the HUB to attain success in completing pathways; successful outcomes (“completed pathways”) have payments associated. By providing this innovative model to Franklin and contiguous counties, HCGC continues its mission to increase optimal health for all in our region; reduce duplication and variation of services; increase health and healthcare value by proactively addressing social determinants of health and connections to care; and increase health equity in Central Ohio. CORE FEATURES OF THE HUB Pathways: Create specific protocols and checklists to standardize work, require greater accountability, and use for payment. These checklists incorporate multiple functionalities to help address the wide variety of circumstances at-risk individuals may face. Pathways Coordination: Provides a single point of contact for individuals/families. Coordinators understand all pathways through a common set of credentials (Certified Community Health Workers); agencies receive payment for pathways coordination services based on effectiveness of performance through ability to connect clients to services. Shared Referral Infrastructure: Common system used by multiple community providers that allows identifiable client data to be used to refer a client to another organization. Allows for high quality referrals between pathways coordination providers and social service providers. Aligning Funders/Payers: Funding from government, health care, and private philanthropy are needed to ensure pathways coordination occurs for all people. Payments are made when pathways are completed, or at agreed-upon milestones. HOW IT WORKS Community Health Workers (CHWs) serve as partners, advocates, and coaches for their clients and work to identify health needs and risks. Each risk is then translated into a pathway—including unmet needs for transportation, housing, and more—and tracked through completion in an electronic database. CHWs are employed by medical clinics, social service agencies, and other organizations throughout the region. RETURN ON INVESTMENT According to a study conducted by Buckeye Health Plan, "Active use of Community Hubs combined with traditional health plan care management to reduce non-clinical barriers to care leads to a lower total cost of care in baby’s first year of life. For every dollar spent on Community Hub activities for our members there was a savings of $2.36." Click here to see a full summary of the study. To learn more about the HUB, please contact: Jenelle Hoseus, MBA Executive Director, Pathways HUB and Care Coordination Network Healthcare Collaborative of Greater Columbus 614-296-5807 jenelle@hcgc.org |
Community Health Worker InterviewsLearn about what it means to be a CHW in the Central Ohio Pathways HUB
Kawther Musa shares her perspective on being a CHW working mostly in the Somali community and how she's able to be a trusted partner in her community:
Tiara Shields reflects on her role in helping her clients understand her experience in getting her COVID-19 Vaccine:
Matthew Demoulin sheds light on challenges that arise in working as a CHW with unique populations with unique challenges:
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