Community Health Worker

Mercy Medical Center Merced; Merced (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Dignity Health - Mercy Medical Center in Merced, CA is seeking a Community Health Worker to serve as a bridge between underserved communities and essential resources. You will help clients navigate health, social, educational, and employment services through a home-visiting model to reduce disparities.

Daily, you will visit clients at home, assess needs, connect them with pathways to care, provide guidance on medical and social services, and help overcome barriers.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Completion of CHW certification within 12 months of hire.
• Ability to use Google Workspace and provide culturally appropriate service.

Responsibilities

• Be a role model for patient satisfaction using AIDET with patients, staff and colleagues.
• Establish trusting relationships with patients and their support team.
• Provide follow-up, motivational interviewing and goal setting based on social needs.
• Follow up with patients via calls and visits to other settings where help is needed.
• Ensure ongoing follow-up from initial identification through closure.
• Help patients reach personal goals and attend appointments.

Skills

Empathy

Problem solving

Cultural competency

Communication skills

Google Workspace

Relationship building

Education

High School Diploma or GED

CHW certification (Charles Drew University) within 12 months

Tools

Google Workspace

Job description

Job Summary and Responsibilities

As our Community Health Worker, you will serve as a vital link between underserved communities and essential community resources. You will be instrumental in reducing health disparities by helping clients navigate and access critical health, social, educational, and employment services through a home-visiting model.

Every day you will proactively engage with clients through home visits, meticulously assessing your needs and identifying specific Pathways to care and support. You will connect clients to identified community resources, provide guidance on accessing medical, behavioral health, and social services, and offer practical assistance to overcome logistical obstacles.

To be successful in this role, you will possess a profound understanding of the cultural and geographical nuances of underserved communities. A strong ability to problem-solve, coupled with empathy and resilience, is essential for effectively removing barriers to care and empowering clients.

• Is a role model for the Hospital's Patient Satisfaction effort, i.e. demonstrates AIDET principles when interacting with customers, subordinates and colleagues.
• Responsible for establishing trusting relationships with patients, and their support team, while providing general support and encouragement
• Based on social needs screening results, provide ongoing follow-up, basic motivational interviewing and goal setting with patients/support team
• Follow-up with patients via phone calls and visits to other settings where patients may need assistance
• Follow up with patients should be on-going from initial identification through closure
• Help patients reach personal goals and attend appointments, as needed

Job Requirements

Required

• A minimum of one (1) year experience in a healthcare setting working with patients, healthcare services, medical groups and payors required
• A minimum of one (1) year experience in community outreach, advocacy work within the healthcare/community
• High School Diploma or GED
• Completion of Community Health Worker certification program at Charles Drew University - within 12 months of hire
• Ability to use Google WorkspaceAble to provide culturally appropriate service
• Ability to build effective relationships with patients, staff, community agencies and community members
• Knowledge of healthcare payors, medical groups and services

Preferred

• Associate Degree, preferable in a healthcare related field preferred
• CA Driver’s License
• Bilingual Spanish speaker with ability to read and write Span ish

Where You'll Work

Founded in 1873, Dignity Health - Mercy Medical Center is a 186-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Merced, California. Serving over 150,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including a Level II NICU, heart care, the Mercy Cancer Center, and a family birth center. Additionally, Merced Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center.

One Community. One Mission. One California