What are the responsibilities and job description for the Community Health Worker (Somali) position at Lexington Regional Health Center?
Description
Lexington Regional Health Center
Title: Community Health Worker
Effective Date: October 24, 2021
Supervisor: Director of Social Services
Department: Social Services
FLSA Status: Non-exempt
Principle duties and responsibilities
- Serves as a liaison between the hospital and the community to facilitate access to quality services by education and promotion of services.
- Manages medical interpreters and performs the duties of a medical interpreter as needed.
- Provides community education (e.g. assists with classes such as diabetes and obesity in children, promotes good mental health with chronic diseases, etc.).
- Serves as a resource and interprets for patients in a formal counseling session related to mental health; assists patients with scheduling such appointments.
- Provides social support (e.g. works with local churches and agencies to supply necessary resources for patients and families).
- Provides patient advocacy by speaking up for the individuals and families; helps families learn to advocate for themselves. Gives patient the power to speak up, promotes other cultures' diversity.
- Translates text relating to hospital services into the appropriate language.
- Interprets/translates language at hospital and community meetings pertaining to the hospital as necessary.
- Translates patient material and informational brochures issued by the hospital into other languages.
- Participates in patient care activities that could include blood exposure and risk to bloodborne pathogens (eg: lacerations, handling of blood-contaminated specimens, etc.)
- Responsible for ensuring the environment meets appropriate governing body standards.
- Responsible for proper collection, storage and labeling of biological specimens.
- Ensure patients and visitors follow current infection control guidelines.
- Maintains patient and staff safety through the use of patient safety tools (Teamstepps, Just Culture, etc.).
- Regular attendance at the assigned work location is required.
- Performs all other duties as assigned.
Minimum knowledge, skills and abilities
- A strong knowledge of reading, spelling, English and writing skills, and computer skills are necessary as is typically acquired through the completion of a high school diploma or equivalent.
- Must complete a Certified Community Health Worker Program provided by the Department of Health and Human Services within one year of initial hire date.
- Must attend an annual interpreter training provided by the Office of Health Disparities and Health Equity.
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality with regard to protected and sensitive information.
- Ability to complete reports and correspondence at a professional level.
- Ability to immediately respond to common inquiries and complaints from patients, employees and regulatory agencies.
- Ability to effectively communicate with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Successful completion of required knowledge and training of standard precaution and transmission protocols and when to apply during principle duties and responsibilities.
Working conditions
- Spends up to 50% of day seated to complete various paper/computer work. The rest of shift is spent ambulating and moving around facility to assist with interpreting services. Required to ambulate 700 feet at one time to assist various departments in facility. Required to reach heights from 10 inches to 59 inches high to access storage requiring lifting up to 6 pounds. May carry laptop to meetings requiring carrying up to 5 pounds (if in computer bag) and 700 feet distance.
- Works in a normal office work environment with little exposure to excessive noise, dust, temperature, etc.
- Sitting, walking, or standing for up to 90% of work time when facilitating effective communication. Subject to infections/communicable disease situations and approximate to chemical, medication, blood and body fluids up to 5%of the work day.
- Exposure to chemicals and other hazards related to patient care. Appropriate safety precautions, such as safety glasses, gloves, etc. must be used to minimize risk of injury.
- Direct exposure to body substances during patient care activities and on contaminated surfaces such as patient equipment.
Management responsibilities
- Medical interpreters
Job description statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this job title. They are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required.
