Last month, Roshaun Hoggard had stomach problems and such severe loss of appetite that he ended up in the emergency room for three days. The ER doctor diagnosed her with diverticulitis, an infection of the digestive tract, and told her to follow up with her primary care provider.

After his discharge, Hoggard contacted Monya Sanders, the community health worker at Transitions Clinic Network in New Haven. Her doctor was booked that Friday, but Sanders told her to come anyway and that she would make sure he was seen.