WIN for Health

Ambulatory Care Network Community Programs

WIN for Health Overview

In 2005, NewYork-Presbyterian (NYP) partnered with the communities of Washington Heights and Inwood to develop and implement the Washington Heights-Inwood Network (WIN) for Asthma – a hospital-community partnership designed to strengthen the existing community-wide network of care and to improve outcomes for local children with poorly controlled asthma. Later, in 2010, the success of WIN for Asthma led to the expansion of the program to become WIN for Health, serving both children with asthma and adults with type 2 diabetes.

Community Health Workers

At the center of the WIN for Health model are bilingual Community Health Workers (CHWs) who serve as the single point of contact for individuals and their caregivers who require comprehensive information, support, and referrals for community services such as those related to housing, immigration, and employment. Community Health Workers are based in local community-based organizations, allowing them to remain in the community where individuals and their caregivers may better identify with them and where they may draw upon a wealth of social services. This partnership model also enables the CHWs to work as part of a health care team on the inpatient units and in the practices where they provide culturally appropriate support and information to those struggling to manage their chronic disease.

Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH)

Beginning in 2010, when WIN for Asthma expanded to become WIN for Health and serve both children with asthma and adults with type 2 diabetes, the program also began integrating CHWs into Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMH).

Starting in November 2010, CHWs began offering PCMH-based support to pediatric patients with asthma and their family members/caregivers and in February 2011, CHWs began offering PCMH-based support to adult patients with type 2 diabetes and their family members/caregivers. Patients are referred to CHWs by any member of the health care team and, to date, nearly 1,800 patients have received WIN for Health PCMH-based support.

WIN for Health is an award-winning, nationally recognized community health worker model that has been featured in peer-reviewed academic journals, national and international conferences, and television programs and newspapers (see listing).