Facilitators and Barriers: Integrating Health Workers in Medical Homes

This article details a qualitative analysis that (1) identified facilitators and barriers to utilizing a community health worker (CHW) model among patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs) in Minnesota; and (2) defined roles played by the CHW workforce within the PCMH team. Four themes emerged as facilitators and barriers: the presence of leaders with knowledge of CHWs who championed the model; a clinic culture that favored piloting innovation vs. maintaining established care models; clinic prioritization of patients’ nonmedical needs; and leadership perceptions of sustainability.