How workforce investments make healthcare more accessible and affordable
When someone walks into a traditional health center with chest pain, the doctor checks their vitals and runs tests. But in an integrated primary care setting, a provider might also ask the deeper questions: Are you stressed about things in your life right now? Can you afford your medications? What’s keeping you up at night?
Integrated primary care is about identifying the root cause of health issues, whether that’s a behavioral health concern, a housing crisis or another social barrier. When care teams address these underlying factors, people get support sooner – before small problems become big ones – and all in one place, rather than having to navigate disconnected systems and providers on their own.
The result? Fewer emergency room visits, better management of chronic conditions and people getting care before they end up in crisis. It’s a proven model that works. And it’s why Cambia Health Foundation is doubling down on the people who make it possible.
The foundation recently announced a new round of Healthcare Workforce grants supporting integrated primary care teams across Idaho, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The grants fund projects like training and career development, wellness programs to combat burnout, paid internships, technology for better remote access or flexible funds to address social needs during care planning.
These integrated care teams increasingly include community health workers, who can connect with those who might otherwise fall through the cracks.
“Community health workers help bridge the gap between people and the healthcare system,” says Allison Gruber, vice president, Cambia Health Foundation. “Because they often share similar backgrounds and experiences with the communities they serve, they can build trust and connect people to care in ways the traditional healthcare system may not always be designed to do. Evidence shows that this kind of support can improve outcomes while helping reduce costs.”
Growing the workforce of the future
The Cambia Health Foundation is investing across the pipeline, supporting the teams serving patients now and the providers who’ll care for them in the future.
This year, it announced Kimora Morris as the recipient of the Cambia Health Foundation / Paula A. Jones Endowed Scholarship for the 2026-2027 school year. Established in 2022, the scholarship supports students in Oregon, Washington, Idaho or Utah who are pursuing post-secondary education for a career in healthcare.
Kimora will attend the University of Oregon this fall to study psychology, with plans to continue to medical school to become a psychiatrist and advocate for greater access to mental health resources in underserved communities.
The foundation is also backing programs like the Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health, which creates pathways for people to enter behavioral health roles at different levels and fill gaps between licensed social workers and master’s or doctorate-level providers. Creating these mid-level roles helps address workforce shortages and allows more people to get the care they need.
“Addressing affordability and access to care requires innovation not only in costs of care but in how care is delivered,” Gruber says. “At Cambia Health Foundation, we’re investing in today’s and tomorrow’s healthcare workforce, including community-based roles that help people navigate and access care. By supporting these kinds of approaches, we can help create a system that’s more accessible, responsive and affordable.”
Learn more at Cambia Health Foundation.