HEALTHCARE
By Diane C . Walsh Acting Editor
Trusted ' Promodoras ' Work f
When you ’ re sick , you turn to those you trust for help .
This notion was well understood by Mariam Merced , director of Community Health Promotions at RWJBarnabas Health ’ s Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick .
For the past 30 years Merced has worked to improve health outcomes and the quality of life in at-risk communities , such as the Latinx neighborhoods in Middlesex County ’ s New Brunswick and Perth Amoy .
One of newest methods she adopted was popularized in Latin America and the Caribbean to overcome cultural barriers , language issues and other concerns that impede healthcare .
Merced sends “ promodoras ” in the neighborhoods to encourage people to visit their doctors , complete preventive screenings and follow-up on their provider ’ s instructions .
“ Trust is a big issue if you ’ re undocumented and don ’ t understand the system ,” she said . “ We needed trusted messengers in the community who can make the link between the hospital and the community .”
Ten women are already working for RWJBarnabas in the roles and Merced said there are plans to add seven more . Not only are they trained in healthcare , but computer skills and strategies for effective outreach .
“ We want to motivate people to take care of themselves and their families ,” Merced said . “ We have been very successful with people who would have fallen through the cracks ,” she said . “ Now we are reconnecting them to address their healthcare needs .” When the promodoras go into homes , their fundamental concerns are healthcare but they often provide support and information on housing , domestic violence , proper nutrition or other issues which affect health and well-being .
Merced is working to duplicate the promodoras approach in other hospital across the RWJBarnabas system and develop a certificate program for the staffers .
The program is an outgrowth of community needs assessment . The study found that Middlesex County has a larger portion of African-American and Latinx residents than the state . The latest figures from 2019 showed 21.3 percent of the county ’ s population is Latinx , compared with 20.7 percent statewide . The study also found in 2016 some 28.9 percent of the families in New Brunswick were living in poverty , as compared to statewide figure of 36 percent . Unemployment levels in New Brunswick also exceeded the statewide levels , at 5.4 percent and 5.2 percent , respectively .
RWJBarnabas has been working on an outreach innitiative to improve healthcare outcomes for Latinx com
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