Parkland Hospital in Dallas plans to hire community health workers to reduce health disparities in the poorest areas of the city, reports Dallas Observer.
The workers, to be deployed in southern Dallas, will focus on connecting patients with healthcare services.
Parkland's effort aims to combat increased mortality rates, especially among black residents, and is part of the implementation plan for the federally mandated Community Health Needs Assessment released in 2019.
Hiring community health workers also aligns with the hospital's overall goal to direct more resources outside its facility, Michael Malaise, a senior vice president at Parkland, told the Observer.
"The value of these community health workers is their relationship to the community," he added. "That's really an imperative if you're looking how to get beyond our hospital walls."
Read more about Parkland's plans in the full report here.