Community Health Workers, Community Health Centers, Primary Care-All Impacted by COVID-19

This issue of the Journal is focused on primary care, community health workers (CHWs), and community health centers (CHCs). Several of the articles tie into occupational health. Tragically, COVID-19 continues to be a pervasive part of our society and is an important part of this issue.

St John and colleagues tie community workers back into the community during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Castro et al provide important insights into the impact of a CHC and a COVID-19 occupational outbreak at a poultry plant.

Carson et al analyze the ways in which CHW's act upon barriers to primary care.

As a primary care internist, I am very pleased to publish the article by Svedlund on primary care redesign's impact on medication refills. Taylor Clark discusses the potential relationship between medical homes and returning patients with low back pain back to work. Sarver analyzes the perennial challenge of Web-based information and improving care, in this case for persons with diabetes. Johnson digs deep into the medical home and does a qualitative analysis of team-based care. Finally, Godsey analyzes how to improve access to outpatient specialty services.

Ranpariya and colleagues close out this issue of the Journal with a Letter to the Editor relating to COVID-19 and vaccine hesitance.

-Norbert I. Goldfield, MD

Editor