or Latinx Community Health
Students create herb gardens as part of YES , a program bringing students and seniors to promote living well .
Photo : RWJBarnabas Health munities .
Photo : RWJBarnabas Health
Merced said the study documents the at-risk nature of the community . It also defined the top issues that impact a community ’ s health . These include : access to care and services , which can also involve transportation and insurance ; preventative care and vaccinations ; and nutrition and physical activity .
Using the study ’ s findings , RWJBarnabas Health developed programs and strategies , like using promodoras , to overcome the community barriers to healthy living .
Often the hospital will partner with community organizations also , Merced explained . For example , she has worked with the Puerto Rican Action Board and the Perth Amboy public school system to provide access to health services , like flu shots and mammograms . “ In this way , we become part of the fabric of the community ,” she said .
During the pandemic the program director showed her personal commitment to community outreach . When data showed that New Brunswick had one of the lowest vaccination rates in the state , largely driven by hesitancy among the Latinx population , Merced personally drove around the neighborhoods with a bullhorn , announcing the vaccine clinic information and answering questions . She and her team knocked on doors and visited parks to engage with the community , and vaccination rates quickly improved from 41 percent to 59 percent between April and June 2021 .
October 2022 COMMERCE 19