MY NAME is Kim Artis, and I am a community health worker (CHW) at the Sinai Urban Health Institute, the research arm of Sinai Health System in Chicago, Illinois. Sinai Urban Health Institute's mission is to improve the health of urban communities and reduce health disparities.
I currently work on an asthma program for adults living on the Westside of Chicago, where asthma rates are up to 3 times the national average. Individuals who frequent the emergency department for their asthma are referred to our program for follow-up. My job is to visit the homes of participants and educate them on the medical management of asthma and asthma trigger reduction. I also serve as a bridge between participants and medical and social services, assisting them in treating not just their asthma but also their overall health and well-being.
In talking with fellow community members about CHW work, I have found that many are reluctant to pursue this type of work because they think it takes years of education or require a special degree. However, what is really needed to do this job effectively is compassion, dedication, and familiarity with the service community. The skills needed to go out in the field are provided through extensive on-the-job training. Although some skills can be taught, other characteristics should be inherent. A person selecting this profession should be a people-person, nonjudgmental, and have a willingness to help others.
I became a CHW while reinventing myself. I had been laid off 2 years prior, was actively seeking employment, and encountered several dead ends. A community representative approached me with a job lead she felt would be perfect for me. The opening was for a CHW. I was reluctant at first but persevered because I knew there was a need in my community.
On my first home visit, I witnessed things that startled and almost pushed me away from continuing as a CHW. I came back to the office, reflecting on the scenario and the difficulties the job might present. I realized that while the job might have challenges, the struggle and hardship I saw confirmed my desire to help my community as a CHW. Many people in my community face financial, social, or educational barriers to health. These barriers challenge their livelihood and affect the decisions they make. As a CHW, I witness the barriers these families face and understand that they often address the most urgent needs first. Urgent needs such as food and rent take precedence over managing their asthma and other health concerns. As a CHW, I work with participants to enable them to advocate for themselves. When I go into their home, I become a part of their family. I see their struggles and triumphs. I am encouraged by their successes and humbled to be a part of positive change. This work is not just my "job" but also my passion.
An example of how my work has positively impacted health and overall quality of life is demonstrated through my interactions with a participant in her early 30s. My educational process begins with an assessment of strengths and knowledge of the individual. In this case, I asked the participant to show me how she uses her inhaler. She picked up the inhaler, positioned it over her shoulder, sprayed the medication into the air, and breathed in the surrounding air. Seeing this, I understood why she remained sick and was then able to work with her and demonstrate correct technique. Because of our work together, she now has better control of her asthma. Having a CHW who works in the home with community members is an effective way to improve patient outcomes.
Ensuring proper medication techniques is one way to improve asthma management. Another way is to improve the participant's living environment by reducing asthma triggers. For example, a 17-year-old client had asthma, and the family knew proper medication techniques. However, they did not know about mold and how it affects asthma. Their home had leaking issues that caused the carpet to remain moist and grow mold. The mother covered the floor with an area rug, believing this would resolve the issue. It merely hid it. Once inside the home, I was able to assess the situation, identify the mold, and advocate on the participant's behalf to have the carpet removed. Once removed, the mother noticed an immediate change in her child's asthma symptoms. The mother recognized she had been depressed and embarrassed about the carpet in her house. It kept her from hosting family and friends. With the carpet removed, the air was cleaner, and her house was once again her home.
The aforementioned success stories are the reason I work so hard to make a difference. In 2014, alongside doctors and other health care professionals, I was honored for my work as a CHW by Save the Children's REAL Awards, which are dedicated to celebrating the work of healthcare workers who save lives every day around the world.
It is my desire to see doctors and nurses embrace CHWs as a part of health care delivery teams. I believe this can be accomplished through conversation, understanding, and always putting the health of our patients first. Legislation can help us build awareness of CHWs and support their integration in health and human services; this was the aim of recent Illinois legislation developed by a collation to support CHWs in our state.
The opportunity to be a part of the IL HB5412 legislation process was an empowering and gratifying experience. IL HB5412 recognizes the CHW profession and establishes a CHW Advisory Board. The passing of this bill means the job I do has been validated, defined, and acknowledged as a vital part of the health care system. When the bill was signed into law in July 2014 at Sinai Health System, I was a part of a priceless moment in history. On that day, I had an opportunity to speak on the same platform as the governor, regarding my work as a CHW. This opportunity allowed me to shed light on the importance of the work that CHWs do daily. The journey to improve health is a road I travel daily, one patient at a time, until change comes.