This recent journal article published in Preventive Medicine highlights the ways in which an existing and cost-effective, but underutilized workforce, community health workers and non-clinical patient navigators, should be deployed to address the COVID-19 pandemic. This workforce has skills in community engagement and health communication and is able to gain the trust of vulnerable communities.

Furthermore, many community health workers and non-clinical patient navigators have skills in assisting community members with meeting basic needs and with navigating public health and healthcare systems.

Authored by Kristen J. Wells, Andrea J. Dwyer, Elizabeth Calhoun and Patricia A. Valverde.