An RN/CHW Exemplar: Managing Hypertension in an Urban Community

Abstract

This effectiveness study was designed to evaluate a community-based registered nurse (RN)/Community Health Worker (CHW) healthcare delivery model. In an effort to improve clinical outcomes by decreasing blood pressures in a predominantly low income, African American Community the RN/CHW team provided regular blood pressure monitoring to residents of four public housing developments in Newark, NJ. A retrospective chart review was conducted at the Jordan and Harris Community Health Center (J&HCHC). The Center was established in 2011 with funding from the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The goal of the J&HCHC was to demonstrate the effectiveness of an RN managed clinical site on health outcomes. Community engagement and empowerment were the cornerstones of the endeavor. Employing residents from the community as CHWs supports this community based model of healthcare delivery. Hypertension is one of the most common chronic illnesses affecting the adult population residing in the housing developments served by the J&HCHC. The preliminary results demonstrate that there was a significant decrease in mean systolic pressure for three years and the diastolic pressures decreased for three years with a statistically significant drop for one of the three years. This study reveals the potential contribution that a community-based RN/CHW healthcare delivery model can have in addressing health disparities in underserved communities.