Position Summary:
The Community Health Worker (CHW) will work to promote, maintain and improve access to health care and the health outcomes of Hamilton patients and their families. The CHW will work closely with patients' medical providers, care teams, and community-based agencies to improve access to services and associated patient care outcomes. The CHW will facilitate enabling services that prioritize addressing patient barriers to care, emergency department utilization, social determinant of health needs, gaps in care, and associated quality improvement initiatives.
Duties & Responsibilities
General responsibilities
- Establish trusting relationships with patients and their families as they work collaboratively and effectively with the Hamilton clinical team.
- Schedule patients for Hamilton provider appointments, as required, and conduct appointment reminders to support patient continuity of care.
- Provide ongoing interviewing, goal setting and follow-up for patients and their families.
- Effectively communicate Hamilton's mission when establishing relationships with medical staff and patients.
- Act as a patient advocate and liaison between patients and community service agencies.
- Assist patients in overcoming barriers to obtaining needed medical care and/or social services.
- Connect patients with transportation resources when appropriate.
- Work with Customer Service Representatives to assist with the completion of required information such as enrollment, eligibility determination and overall follow-up. Assist in the completion of applications and registration forms (when needed) in order to expedite access to care.
- Collaborate with Hamilton care managers, health educators, recovery coaches, and outreach team members to support patient outcomes and reduce duplication of activities among the CHW team members.
- Record and track patient outreach and care management information in designated patient record systems. Assess patient information to identify patterns and/or trends.
- Maintain knowledge of community resources to assist with meeting the needs of Hamilton patients and their families.
- Provide referrals / linkages for community services as appropriate.
- Assist patients in the development of health management plans and personal care goals. Coach patients in effective management of their chronic health conditions and self-care. Motivate patients to be active and engaged in their health care.
- Attend regular staff meetings, trainings and other meetings as required.
- Other duties as assigned or requested.
Job Requirements
Education and/or Experience Required:
- High School Diploma
- Two (2) or more years' experience working in a clinical environment.
- Successful completion of a Community Health Worker formal training program such as from a college or other educational institution within six (6) months of hire. OR An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job as listed above.
Preferred:
- Bachelor's degree in healthcare, Community Outreach or Social Services
- Experience working in an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) or client services database (e.g., Social Solutions, Azara, etc.)
Qualifications
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality in all matters.
- Ability to communicate with patients to resolve issues.
- Flexible, with the ability to work independently and with minimal guidance.
- Strong oral and written communication and presentational skills.
- Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills, to effectively and tactfully deal with a diverse group of patients, staff, customers, and community groups.
- Must be able to travel with use of a personal vehicle.
- Must possess the ability to read and interpret documents.
- Must possess the ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
- Must possess the ability to speak effectively before groups and actively engage the general public in outreach situations.
- Must possess the ability to interact respectfully with diverse cultural and socio-economic populations.
- General computer proficiency.
Language Skills
- Ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations.
Physical Demands
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
- The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit; use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, or crouch.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Specific vision requirements include the ability to see at close range.
- At times, may require more than 40 hours per week to perform the essential duties of the position.
- At times, may require working weekends and evenings.
- Fine hand manipulation (keyboarding).
- Travel between sites and to patient visit locations using own vehicle.
Work Environment Work is partially performed (60%) in a normal, pleasant office or clinic environment. A portion of work time (40%) will be spent performing in-field outreach and patient assistance activities. Duties will require travel throughout the organization's service area. Travel expenses (mileage) will be reimbursed.
