What are the responsibilities and job description for the Community Health Worker position at Bethesda Health Clinic?
Community Health Worker (CHW)
POSITION SUMMARY: Are you looking to make a difference in your community, then the Community Health Worker is the position for you. The Community Health Worker (CHW) is responsible for helping patients and their families to navigate and access community services, other resources, and adopt healthy behaviors. The CHW supports providers and social workers through an integrated approach to care management and community outreach. As a priority, activities will promote, maintain, and improve the health of patients and their family. A CHW provides social support and informal counseling, advocates for individuals and community health needs, shares resources and provides an action plan for the patient in need.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Responsible for establishing trusting relationships with patients and their families while providing general support and encouragement.
• Provide ongoing follow-up, basic motivational interviewing and goal setting with patients/families.
• Provide referrals for services to community agencies as appropriate.
• Exhibit excellent working relations with patients, visitors and staff.
- Complete a Family Needs Assessment, intake form and Service Plan for every patient.
- Attend community outreach events to learn and help provide resources to the community and promote the services of the clinics.
• Effectively communicate Bethesda’s mission.
• Work closely with medical providers to help ensure that patients have comprehensive and coordinated care plans.
• Work collaboratively with other clinical personnel assigned to the same patient.
• Knowledgeable about community resources appropriate to needs of patients/families.
• Responsible for providing consistent communication to the Clinic Manager to evaluate patient/family status, ensuring that provided information, and reports clearly describe progress.
• Act as a patient advocate and liaison between the patient/family and community service agencies.
• Record patient care management information in the EMR and/or on any required documentation no later than 24 hours after patient contact.
• Attend regular staff meetings, training courses and other meetings, as requested.
• Manage assigned caseload of patients.
• Maintain PHI and HIPAA compliance at all times.
COMPETENCIES:
• Good organizational skills to handle multiple priorities while remaining professional and calm.
• Ability to work with many diverse people, including children and teenagers.
• Effective telephone skills.
• Strong level of confidentiality due to the sensitivity of materials and information handled.
• Ability to make suggestions on workflow or system efficiency and effectiveness.
• Ability to work independently and be self-directed and flexible.
• Ability to prioritize.
• Ability to work at a high-volume level of accuracy.
GENERAL EXPECTATIONS:
• Be committed to the mission of the Bethesda Health Clinic.
• Behave in a professional manner and consistently demonstrate and promote the values of respect, honesty, and dignity for the patient, families, and all members of the healthcare team.
• Be punctual for scheduled work and use time appropriately.
• Perform duties in a conscientious, cooperative manner.
• Perform required amount of work in a timely fashion with a minimum of errors.
• Be neat and maintain a professional appearance.
• Maintain confidentiality and protect the practice by abiding by laws and principles related to confidentiality.
• Maintain compliance with Bethesda’s compliance standards, including the Bethesda BOOM, and other policies and procedures. Such compliance will be an element considered as part of the CHW’s regular performance evaluation.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by the Incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for prolonged periods of time, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and use hands to operate a standard computer keyboard. The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
Vision requirements include: close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Ability to read multiple handwritings.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those the incumbent encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work is performed in a busy medical office environment with many interruptions. Very active, fast-paced position with short deadlines.
QUALIFICATIONS:
The following experience and skills are considered essential:
• Bilingual required, fluent in English and Spanish is required.
• Current Community Health Worker certification required.
• Experience working in a multi-cultural setting.
• Experience working in a community-based setting for at least 1 to 2 years preferred.
• Basic computer skills required, electronic medical record (EMR) experience preferred.
• Understand the community served, community connectedness.
• Good communication skills, such as listening well, and using language appropriately.
• Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement and motivation to patients.
Education Requirements: The following education requirements are considered essential:
• High school graduate or equivalent required; Associate's Degree in Community Health Workers or related field preferred.
This position description is intended to be a tool to describe the primary purpose of the job and the key duties and responsibilities. It may not be inclusive of all duties and job assignments. Other job duties and responsibilities may be added, deleted and/or revised at the discretion of management.
