Community Health Worker

Healthlinc; Elkhart (IN); On-site; USD 36,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

HealthLinc is seeking a Community Health Worker to support the healthcare team with patient coaching and motivational interviewing. You will help patients, families, and caregivers achieve self-management and connect them with community resources.

You will collaborate with clinical staff, follow up on appointments, referrals, and care plans, and participate in outreach to improve community health outcomes. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent is required.
• Formal CHW training program completed; CCP certification preferred.
• Spanish medical interpreter certification is a plus.
• Experience in patient/community facing roles is desired.

Responsibilities

• Establish trusting relationships with patients and families.
• Provide ongoing follow up, motivational interviewing, and goal setting.
• Serve as liaison between clinical staff and patient regarding appointments and referrals.
• Help patients set personal goals and attend appointments.
• Refer services to community agencies as appropriate.
• Assist patients in connecting with transportation resources and reminders.
• Connect to resources for plan of care (MOWs, HH, prescription aid).
• Work with the care team to ensure coordinated, comprehensive care.
• Outreach and implement community programs to improve health needs.
• Advise groups on chronic disease, diabetes management, hypertension, nutrition.

Skills

Organizational & time management

Team collaboration

Flexibility & adaptability

Excellent written & verbal comms

Medical terminology knowledge

Patient-facing communication

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Formal CHW training program

Chronic Care Professional (CCP) certificate

Certified Medical Interpreter-Spanish

Tools

Microsoft Office

EHR systems

Online resources

Job description

As a Community Health Worker, you will support the healthcare team by providing patient coaching and conducting motivational interviewing to support patients, families, and caregivers in achieving self-management, self-efficiency, and behavior changes to improve patient health and care outcomes. You will also assist in referring our patients to various community resources. This position will work closely with the clinical staff and will report to the Assistant Site Operations Director.JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:Establishes trusting relationships with patients and their families while providing general support and encouragement.Provides ongoing follow up, basic motivational interviewing and goal setting with patients/families.Serves as a liaison between clinical staff and patient, by following up with patients regarding their appointments, referrals, and needed resources.Helps patients set personal goals and attend appointments.Provides referral for services to community agencies as appropriate.Helps patients connect with transportation resources and gives appointment reminders to aid in compliance with prescribed plan of care.Helps patients connect to needed resources to carry out plan of care (MOWs, HH, Prescription assistance, etc.)Works closely with integrated medical team to ensure that patients have comprehensive and coordinated care.Remains knowledgeable about community resources appropriate to needs of patient/family.Continuously validates and evaluates the effectiveness of the community resources.Provides consistent communication to Medical Provider/Care Team Nurse to evaluate patient/family status and reports progress and compliance with identified plan of care.Enables and improves culturally and linguistically competent services and care by making efforts to understand the community culture and resources.Conducts outreach, implements programs in community that promotes, maintains and improves community health needs and provides resources.Collects data to help identify community health needs.Advises community groups on chronic disease and diabetes self- management, hypertension, and nutrition.Advises clients on general health and exercise and self- care activities.Identifies age appropriate needs and resources.Follows up hospitalizations and no showsProvides situation appropriate social support to the patient utilizing experience lived and learned through training provided at HLProvides informal counseling as needed.All HealthLinc staff is committed to engage in quality improvement initiatives that align with and support Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH).Performs other duties as assigned.REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:Education/TrainingHigh school diploma or equivalentSuccessful completion of a formal CHW training program and Chronic Care Professional (CCP) certificate (HealthLinc will provide training upon hiring)Certified Medical Interpreter-Spanish (not required but highly preferred)ExperienceAt least 1-2 years of experience as patient/community facing role within a nonprofit environment, food pantry, WIC, etc.Skills/Job RequirementStrong organizational and time management skillsProven ability to work well in a team environmentAbility to remain flexible and adaptableKnowledge of some medical terminologyExcellent written and verbal communication skillsTransportation and valid drivers licenseAbility to follow HealthLinc policies and proceduresTechnology SkillsOperate a multi-line phone system and other office equipment including printers, fax machines, etc.Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office, EHR, online sources, etc.)DIRECT SUPERVISION:N/AREQUIRED TRAININGS:All assigned Relias training