Colorado's Health Extension Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multi-method Evaluation.

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Title: Colorado's Health Extension Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multi-method Evaluation.
Authors: Sherrill, Ashley1 ashley.sherrill@cuanschutz.edu, Wiggins, Kimberly1 kimberly.wiggins@cuanschutz.edu, Hall, Tristen L.1 tristen.hall@cuanschutz.edu, Fernald, Douglas H.1 doug.fernald@cuanschutz.edu, Dickinson, L. Miriam1 miriam.dickinson@cuanschutz.edu, Grant, Gillian2 ggrant@trailhead.institute, Groves, Hannah M.2 hgroves@trailhead.institute, Lampe, Sarah2 slampe@trailhead.institute, Dickinson, W. Perry1 perry.dickinson@cuanschutz.edu, Simpson, Matthew J.1 matthew.simpson@cuanschutz.edu
Source: Journal of Community Health. Aug2025, Vol. 50 Issue 4, p700-711. 12p.
Subject Terms: *Health services accessibility, *Community health services, *Qualitative research, *Longitudinal method, *COVID-19 pandemic, Social determinants of health, Contact tracing, Research funding, Primary health care, Logistic regression analysis, COVID-19 testing, Quantitative research, Telemedicine, Medical needs assessment, Grounded theory
Geographic Terms: Colorado
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the activities and impact of Colorado's health extension agents' Regional Health Connectors (RHC) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health extension is gaining momentum across the U.S. with a focus on primary care practice transformation, quality improvement, and broader community health. RHCs aim to increase clinical-community alliances, particularly related to the social determinants of health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, RHC roles drastically shifted, prompting quick responses to address community needs in a public health crisis. We conducted longitudinal, twice-monthly surveys with both quantitative and qualitative responses to better understand which needs RHCs were responding to and how they were responding in communities, primary care practices, and public health organizations. Nine electronic surveys were sent to RHCs from April to August 2020: eight standardized questionnaires administered every two weeks and one final retrospective questionnaire. Analyses using mixed effects logistic model and grounded theory approaches explored the nature of RHC-partner interactions and perceived impacts. Within each region, RHCs worked with primary care practices, local public health agencies, and community organizations to help coordinate the COVID-19 response. Broadly speaking, RHCs assisted with COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, communicated the latest information and recommendations to numerous partners, assisted practices and organizations in addressing social needs, and worked to enhance access to mental health and telehealth services. Partner needs were significantly related to the RHCs host organization. This highlights the roles that health extension programs may play during a public health emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Community Health is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Colorado's Health Extension Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multi-method Evaluation.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sherrill%2C+Ashley%22">Sherrill, Ashley</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> ashley.sherrill@cuanschutz.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wiggins%2C+Kimberly%22">Wiggins, Kimberly</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> kimberly.wiggins@cuanschutz.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hall%2C+Tristen+L%2E%22">Hall, Tristen L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> tristen.hall@cuanschutz.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Fernald%2C+Douglas+H%2E%22">Fernald, Douglas H.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> doug.fernald@cuanschutz.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dickinson%2C+L%2E+Miriam%22">Dickinson, L. Miriam</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> miriam.dickinson@cuanschutz.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Grant%2C+Gillian%22">Grant, Gillian</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><i> ggrant@trailhead.institute</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Groves%2C+Hannah+M%2E%22">Groves, Hannah M.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><i> hgroves@trailhead.institute</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lampe%2C+Sarah%22">Lampe, Sarah</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><i> slampe@trailhead.institute</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dickinson%2C+W%2E+Perry%22">Dickinson, W. Perry</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> perry.dickinson@cuanschutz.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Simpson%2C+Matthew+J%2E%22">Simpson, Matthew J.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> matthew.simpson@cuanschutz.edu</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Community+Health%22">Journal of Community Health</searchLink>. Aug2025, Vol. 50 Issue 4, p700-711. 12p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Health+services+accessibility%22">Health services accessibility</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Community+health+services%22">Community health services</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Qualitative+research%22">Qualitative research</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Longitudinal+method%22">Longitudinal method</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19+pandemic%22">COVID-19 pandemic</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+determinants+of+health%22">Social determinants of health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Contact+tracing%22">Contact tracing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Primary+health+care%22">Primary health care</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Logistic+regression+analysis%22">Logistic regression analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22COVID-19+testing%22">COVID-19 testing</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Quantitative+research%22">Quantitative research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Telemedicine%22">Telemedicine</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Medical+needs+assessment%22">Medical needs assessment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grounded+theory%22">Grounded theory</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Colorado%22">Colorado</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the activities and impact of Colorado's health extension agents' Regional Health Connectors (RHC) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health extension is gaining momentum across the U.S. with a focus on primary care practice transformation, quality improvement, and broader community health. RHCs aim to increase clinical-community alliances, particularly related to the social determinants of health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, RHC roles drastically shifted, prompting quick responses to address community needs in a public health crisis. We conducted longitudinal, twice-monthly surveys with both quantitative and qualitative responses to better understand which needs RHCs were responding to and how they were responding in communities, primary care practices, and public health organizations. Nine electronic surveys were sent to RHCs from April to August 2020: eight standardized questionnaires administered every two weeks and one final retrospective questionnaire. Analyses using mixed effects logistic model and grounded theory approaches explored the nature of RHC-partner interactions and perceived impacts. Within each region, RHCs worked with primary care practices, local public health agencies, and community organizations to help coordinate the COVID-19 response. Broadly speaking, RHCs assisted with COVID-19 testing and contact tracing, communicated the latest information and recommendations to numerous partners, assisted practices and organizations in addressing social needs, and worked to enhance access to mental health and telehealth services. Partner needs were significantly related to the RHCs host organization. This highlights the roles that health extension programs may play during a public health emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Community Health is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10900-025-01458-6
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 700
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Health services accessibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Community health services
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Qualitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Longitudinal method
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: COVID-19 pandemic
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social determinants of health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Contact tracing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Research funding
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Primary health care
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Logistic regression analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: COVID-19 testing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Quantitative research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Telemedicine
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Medical needs assessment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grounded theory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Colorado
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Colorado's Health Extension Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Multi-method Evaluation.
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              Text: Aug2025
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