{{ In Oregon, for example, five rural clinics employ community health workers, who become state-certified after completing 90 hours of online training, }}
At least it won’t take much time to train-em and spool them up. I wonder if they have prescribing privileges?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/health/community-health-care-workers.html
intercst
No, of course not.
From the article:
"Connected Care’s community health workers tackle many of those not-exactly-medical problems — from installing wheelchair ramps to helping patients apply for food and housing benefits. They are allotted 90 days to work with each patient, usually during home visits.
They help coordinate follow-up appointments. They administer cognitive and mental health screenings and watch for use of too many medications, entering their observations in the patients’ electronic health records." [end quote]
There’s a lot more to health care than prescriptions, as I learned when my mother had lung cancer and my friend Dave was sick with diabetes and lung fibrosis which hospitalized him several times and caused double amputations. Doctor’s appointments. Wheelchair. I applied for SSD for Dave because he still considered himself “employed” as a lawyer though he didn’t have clients and couldn’t get into the courthouse. And he couldn’t deal with the online SSD application process.
Many older and disabled people don’t use computers. They don’t have access to information and benefits. They can’t research their own problems or talk knowledgeably with their doctors.
There’s a LOT that community health workers can do to help sick people. Even if not formally certified there are many ways to help.
On Wednesday, I will drive a friend who is too disabled from a stroke to the YMCA so we can do a shallow-water exercise class together. My sister drives elderly ladies to organized social groups. My sister’s husband volunteers with Meals on Wheels. These are all health care-adjacent though not “medical” per se.
Wendy
P.S. I know that religion is forbidden on METAR but I’d like to mention that helping the sick is an important mitzvah which Jews believe is remembered in our balance of good and bad. There’s a list of these mitzvot which include honoring parents, making peace between people, hospitality, visiting the sick and several others. Even a person who is elderly and even disabled can visit isolated, lonely people in old age homes and hospitals, thus increasing the balance of happiness in the world. And it really feels good to reach out and help someone in need.