UAMS, Local Pharmacies Partner to Provide Community Health Workers in Ashley County
| FAYETTEVILLE – Four community health workers were hired recently through a partnership between the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) and local pharmacies and organizations to help people in Ashley County navigate the health care system.
As embedded community health workers, Gracie-Dru Collins, Kayla High, Janet Pack and Rashonna Porter are available to answer basic health care questions and provide education and resources to the public.
Collins is embedded with Baker’s Pharmacy, while High is embedded with Gammel’s Clinic Pharmacy, both in Crossett. Pack works with Arkansas Rural Health Partnership (ARHP), and Porter is with Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC).
“Serving my community as a community health worker is so empowering,” Porter said. “I want to build a trustworthy relationship with my community and to help guide them to resources that are available to them.”
Community health workers work within their communities to help the public get the care they need and answer essential health care-related questions, such as when someone should see a doctor. They also can provide valuable information about vaccines.
“We are so pleased to work with Gracie-Dru, Kayla, Janet and Rashonna to provide the people of Ashley County with a new resource as we enter the next, and hopefully final, stage of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Stephanie Kruger, associate director of community programs in the UAMS Office of Community Health & Research. “We’re also excited to work with Baker’s Pharmacy, Gammel’s Clinic Pharmacy, AFMC and ARHP and the Ashley County community as we work to create a better state of health for all people in Arkansas.”
The community health workers can be contacted at the following:
- Gracie Dru-Collins; Baker’s Pharmacy, 300 Main St., Crossett; 870-364-5155
- Kayla High; Gammel’s Clinic Pharmacy, 909 Unity Road, Crossett; 870-364-5100
- Janet Pack; Arkansas Rural Health Partnership; janetpack@arruralhealth.org; 870-415-2795
- Rashonna Porter; Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care; rashonna.porter@afmc.org; 501-553-7627.
For more information about the UAMS Community Health Worker project, visit nwa.uams.edu/chr/chw. For more information about COVID-19, including resources, mobile vaccine events and education, visit nwa.uams.edu/covid.
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $9,892,799 with 0 percentage financed with non-governmental sources.
UAMS is the state’s only health sciences university, with colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Health Professions and Public Health; a graduate school; a hospital; a main campus in Little Rock; a Northwest Arkansas regional campus in Fayetteville; a statewide network of regional campuses; and seven institutes: the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute, Harvey & Bernice Jones Eye Institute, Psychiatric Research Institute, Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, Translational Research Institute and Institute for Digital Health & Innovation. UAMS includes UAMS Health, a statewide health system that encompasses all of UAMS’ clinical enterprise. UAMS is the only adult Level 1 trauma center in the state. U.S. News & World Report recognized UAMS Medical Center as a Best Hospital for 2021-22; ranked its ear, nose and throat program among the top 50 nationwide for the third year; and named five areas as high performing — colon cancer surgery, diabetes, hip replacement, knee replacement and stroke. UAMS has 3,047 students, 873 medical residents and fellows, and six dental residents. It is the state’s largest public employer with more than 11,000 employees, including 1,200 physicians who provide care to patients at UAMS, its regional campuses, Arkansas Children’s, the VA Medical Center and Baptist Health. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.
The UAMS Northwest Regional Campus includes 288 medical, pharmacy, nursing and health professions students, 64 medical and pharmacy residents, two sports medicine fellows, and 1,000 community-based faculty. The campus has nine clinics including a student-led clinic and physical, occupational and speech therapy. Faculty conduct research to reduce health disparities. Visit www.uams.edu or www.uamshealth.com. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Instagram.
AFMC is a private, nonprofit organization focused on improving health and health care through trusted, committed private and public partnerships. Founded on AFMC’s mission, our experienced and dedicated leadership team and staff have successfully delivered value to our customers and partners for the past 50 years.