M08 - Addressing Cultural and Clinical Barriers in Primary Care: An Indigenous CHW Model

Monday, August 11, 2025

9:00 AM – 9:45 AM MT

CE/CME Hours: .75 CE

Pharmacology Hours: 0.0 CE

Co-Presenter(s)

PL

Phillip Lee

Diabetes Health Coach
Chinle Comprehensive Healthcare Facility
Chinle, Arizona

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose
FB

Farrah Begay, BA

Diabetes Health Coach
Chinle Comprehensive Healthcare Facility
Chinle, Arizona

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Primary Presenter(s)

DB

Delilah Browne, MPH

Public Health Advisor
Chinle Comprehensive Healthcare Facility
Chinle, Arizona

Disclosure(s): No financial relationships to disclose

Indigenous peoples have resilient, strength-based cultures and experience disparities in diabetes prevalence and outcomes. Dissonance between Western clinical norms and indigenous health beliefs creates challenges for primary care delivery. The Indian Health Service’s Chinle Service Unit developed a health coach model to culturally tailor care. Coaches are community members, trained in the fundamentals of diabetes pathophysiology and self-management, with an emphasis on motivational interviewing and the Navajo wellness model. Embedded in Chinle’s patient-centered medical home, health coaches see patients during routine primary care. Using clinical vignettes, this presentation will demonstrate the program’s cultural tailoring of the ADCES7 Self-care Behaviors® and the relevance of the model to cross-cultural care.

Disclosure(s):

Phillip Lee: No financial relationships to disclose

Farrah Begay, BA: No financial relationships to disclose

Delilah Browne, MPH: No financial relationships to disclose