Clinical Community Wellness Advocate

Boston Medical Center (BMC)

Boston (MA)

On-site

USD 40,000 - 55,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Professional development opportunities

Advocacy for community health programs

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in Boston is seeking a Clinical Community Wellness Advocate to enhance health equity and support community members managing chronic conditions. The role involves care coordination, patient education, and collaboration with healthcare teams. Ideal candidates have a high school diploma, community experience, and strong interpersonal skills. This position is full-time and focuses on making a significant impact on community health.

Qualifications

Minimum 2 years in healthcare or community-based experience required.
Familiarity with Mattapan community preferred.
Ability to build relationships in complex environments.

Responsibilities

Manage patient engagement in health programs.
Facilitate patient navigation and appointments.
Provide advocacy and patient education for community services.

Skills

Multilingual skills (Spanish or Haitian Creole)

Outstanding interpersonal skills

Strong interest in Social Determinants of Health

Education

HS Diploma with community experience

Bachelor's degree in relevant field preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Electronic medical records

Job description

Clinical Community Wellness Advocate at Boston Medical Center (BMC)

Overview

Boston Medical Center Health System (BMCHS) is a leading academic medical center with a deep commitment to health equity and a history of serving all who come to us for care. BMC provides high-quality healthcare and support beyond our campus into diverse communities. As a core member of the Boston Medical Center Health System, BMC advances medicine and trains the next generation of healthcare providers and researchers.

In 2021 BMC launched the Health Equity Accelerator to transform healthcare to deliver health justice and well-being. The Accelerator, in partnership with Population Health, develops an innovative multi-disciplinary approach that combines clinical operations, community engagement, health-related social needs programs, and research assets to address racial health inequities. The Community Wellness Advocate (CWA) is a trusted community member who promotes and maintains stable health and wellness for patients and families through connections to program and community-based services. The CWA serves as the patient’s guide throughout the program and supports the management of conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. The role involves direct outreach, culturally appropriate follow-up, identifying barriers to care, and connecting patients with the care team. The CWA acts as a liaison between patient and program care team and distills medical information into plain language for patient understanding. The CWA will collaborate with the Community Health Equity Manager to develop programming around economic mobility and nutrition security. This role contributes to population health management and patient navigation, requiring strong communication, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to advancing health equity.

Position details

Position: Clinical Community Wellness Advocate

Department: PHS Community Health

Schedule: Full Time

Essential Responsibilities / Duties

Care coordination and case management

Manage a panel of patients engaged in various stages of the program
Assess patients’ social, financial and family resources and connect patients to available program and community resources in partnership with other program team members
Use standardized questionnaires (e.g., THRIVE and PAID-5) to identify social determinants of health (SDOH) and distress related to diabetes, hypertension, and obesity
Schedule and complete community-based visits (homes, community organizations, community spaces)
Teach key educational messages using culturally, linguistically, and educationally appropriate strategies in various settings
Work with patients and the program care team to set goals for the patient’s care and provide guidance to achieve those goals
Present patient cases during team huddles succinctly and logically
Facilitate information flow between patient, provider and program team members; distill medical information into plain language
Attend trainings and professional development opportunities to maintain knowledge of chronic disease management and resources

Patient navigation

Serve as central contact for patients navigating diabetes, hypertension, and obesity care as part of the multidisciplinary care team
Schedule appointments, ensuring timely reminders and follow-up care
Utilize Motivational Interviewing techniques or similar tools to engage patients and provide emotional support
Verify and update patient insurance information when scheduling visits
Proactively contact patients to resolve barriers to appointment completion
Provide general clerical support and maintain contacts database
Distribute patient remote monitoring devices and ensure data flows into the EMR, troubleshooting as needed
Provide and receive constructive feedback from team members and patients

Documentation and database management

Document patient communication in the EMR using encounter notes, inbasket messages and MyChart
Document barriers to care and plans for resource connections
Document assessments and key patient updates in the EPIC system
Clearly document all activities in the patient’s record and care management system
Presents patient cases during team huddles succinctly and logically
Attend regularly scheduled supervision and program meetings
Maintain database of community-based resources in partnership with program staff

Community programming and support

Attend group programming to build relationships with program patients and identify areas for support
Participate in community outreach, presentations to organizations, development of materials, and follow-up calls
Partner with the Community Health Equity Manager to identify and develop community-based programming around economic mobility and nutrition security
Reinforce educational messages by linking patients with support services
Provide advocacy, patient education, and warm hand-offs in accessing community-based programs; coordinate long-term support
Develop and maintain strong relationships with the community and resources to ensure patient access
Assist with facilitation of community and patient listening sessions
Contribute to new ideas that impact the program

General duties and standards

Adapt to departmental needs; assist teammates, float, and adjust assignments as needed
Conform to hospital standards of performance, patient rights, HIPAA and privacy rules
Use hospital behavioral standards to support the department and hospital mission
Follow infection control and safety procedures
Performs other duties as assigned to support program priorities

Clinical responsibilities

Performs venipunctures and collects various specimens per laboratory policies
Receives and prepares laboratory specimens and ensures proper labeling
Identifies patients and follows specimen handling procedures
Centrifuges and aliquots specimens according to policies
Completes safety, compliance, and competency training; follows infection control procedures

Education and job requirements

HS Diploma with community experience required; minimum 2 years in healthcare, public health, or community-based experience (preferably with adults)
Or equivalent combination of education and experience
Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (social work, public health, etc.) preferred

Certificates, licenses, registrations Required: Phlebotomy certification or training program permitted to draw blood in Massachusetts.

Knowledge and skills

Multilingual skills in languages appropriate to patient populations preferred (Spanish or Haitian Creole)
Familiarity with Mattapan community and surrounding ZIP codes
Strong interest in Social Determinants of Health and equity
Outstanding interpersonal and organizational skills; ability to multi-task
Understanding of how language, culture, and socioeconomic factors affect health
Knowledge of Microsoft Office and electronic medical records
Ability to build and manage relationships in a complex environment
Calm and professional demeanor under stress
Effective verbal and written communication with patient populations

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

According to the FTC, there has been a rise in employment offer scams. Our current job openings are listed on our website and applications are received only through our website. We do not ask or require downloads of any applications, or apply offers are not extended via text messages or social media. We do not ask individuals to purchase equipment for employment.

Seniority level