By: Kathleen McKenzie, Vice President for Community Affairs, Highmark Blue Shield
Throughout the worst parts of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, testing was one of the best tools available to help slow the transmission of the virus. Yet, there were major barriers to accessing and affording testing that made it especially scarce in marginalized communities. Recognizing this need, Highmark and Latino Connection partnered to quickly mobilize an initiative that provided free and easily accessible COVID-19 testing and education to communities across Pennsylvania. The CATE (Community Access Testing and Education) mobile unit has since reached tens of thousands of people, focusing on areas where access to bilingual resources and education are not readily available.
Now with the benefit of this experience, we’ve gained critical insight into effectively reaching and engaging underserved populations to create healthier communities. And this insight can be applied to new initiatives moving forward for even greater outcomes. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15, 2022), there is no better time for each of us, especially healthcare providers, to reflect upon what we’re doing to intentionally serve our minority populations – and how we can do better. Here’s what COVID, and the CATE mobile unit, have shown us.
Healthcare is evolving. Our approach needs to evolve, too.
Many of the individuals served by CATE had limitations and barriers that would have otherwise prevented them from receiving COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, transportation and language being among the largest. CATE strategically selected locations in underserved communities that were accessible by walking or public transportation. And every event was equipped with bilingual staff and resources in both English and Spanish. This needs to become the new standard – healthcare that is not merely available, but truly accessible. And that means (quite literally) driving resources to the heart of the community where they are needed the most, like CATE did.
Providers must build upon a foundation of trust.
Beyond simply making health resources available in communities, we must also be intentional about building trust that these resources are safe, effective and necessary. There is still a lot of work to be done to build trust between healthcare providers and the people they serve, especially in minority communities. There is no quick fix, but rather we must build trust carefully, thoughtfully, and with every action we take. This means ensuring outreach efforts are culturally relevant and people-focused. This will look different for every person, provider, and community initiative, but it needs to be where we start with each initiative moving forward.
There is always more good work to be done.
With a proven track record of successful community outreach and activation under its belt, CATE is a model for what can be accomplished by other health initiatives that seek to reach diverse and underserved populations. And the real success lies in partnerships and collaboration. Creating healthy communities truly takes a village, and that village for CATE was the funding and support received from more than 200 community partners, the longest standing being Highmark. It’s important to remember that COVID-19 is still actively spreading at high rates and millions of Americans have yet to receive a vaccine. CATE has no plans to let up on the gas. The mobile unit will continue to host events across Pennsylvania through 2022, closing the gap on health disparities with every mile logged.
And beyond COVID-19 resources, we have seen that our local communities are also coming out to CATE events to learn more about how to manage health conditions and chronic disease. They are talking to our health outreach workers with whom they have developed a relationship with over the past few years.
We’re proud to say that our diverse and bilingual health workers are trusted community members who look like and share history with the communities we serve. Because of the trust we have developed across the state, community members are now frequently discussing their health with our CATE outreach workers. One participant was heard saying “We have a history of diabetes and high blood pressure in our families and we don’t want to get COVID-19 because that will just make our diabetes worse.”
At Highmark, we believe that the health and wellness of our whole community is essential to a thriving healthcare system. Supporting a mobile unit covering our state to vaccinate and educate has resulted in an opportunity to engage our communities where they are, in their language, and establish trust in the healthcare system which never existed for many individuals, particularly in communities of color. Improving our healthcare model takes time and intention. But after two years of funding CATE, we have seen that mobile healthcare units are a critical tool for the health of our communities. And this is just the beginning!
Author: Amaury Abreu
