COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER, EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Cook County Health; Illinois; On-site; USD 34,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage

Pension Plan

Deferred Compensation Program

Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time

Job summary

Cook County Health’s Emergency Department seeks a Community Health Worker to support care coordination by screening patients and bridging them to medical homes and community resources.

Under supervision, the CHW educates patients, helps schedule appointments, refers to social services, and documents interactions in the EMR. This is grant-funded through 12/31/26. The role emphasizes PHI protection and working with diverse populations.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED is required.
• One year of experience performing health risk screenings, providing health education or linking to community resources is required.
• Experience with software and computers (e.g., word processing, scheduling, MS Office) is required.

Responsibilities

• Screen patients and document responses in designated software/EMR.
• Educate patients on engaging with the health system and their care plan.
• Schedule appointments, referrals to community resources, and follow up to close gaps in care.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Organization

Time management

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree preferred

CHW program preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

EMR software

Job description

Community Health Worker (CHW), Emergency Dept.

Department

Cook County Health

SHIFT

8AM-4PM

SALARY

$25.148 STARTING HOURLY

Summary

Job Summary AFSCME 1111

Under supervision, the Community Health Worker (CHW) supports the provision of care coordination services by screening patients in the emergency department. These services are offered to serve as a bridge between the patient, medical services, and/or community-based organization throughout the County of Cook. The CHW helps the patients navigate the health care delivery system, advocates on their behalf and works to reduce barriers that interfere with the patient's ability to successfully interface with their medical home provider. This is a grant funded position, grant ends 12/31/26.

Typical Duties

• Completes patient screenings by asking questions and documenting the response in designated software and/or EMR system.
• Provides education to patients on ways to actively engage in their own health and to increase the benefits of health system interaction, i.e., call before medications run out, call medical home prior to going to the Emergency Department (ED) for non-life-threatening issues, being prepared for provider visits.
• Performs supportive tasks for patients such as scheduling appointments, referrals to community-based resources (i.e., social services such as housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, mental health specialty care, substance abuse treatment, etc.) and directions on how to access services and care, follows up with the patient to close gaps in care.
• Works, link patients to appropriate programs and Community Based Organizations.
• Supports efforts to locate patients. This may include calling Medical Homes, pharmacies, driving by last known address to place outreach materials, conduct online search using white pages, contacting healthcare providers for updated demographic information, etc.
• Utilizes screenings to determine escalation to licensed clinical staff as determined by developed protocols and workflows for continuity of care.
• Interfaces with payers to validate authorization for required services.
• Completes all education activities/training, as required.
• Provides lay education to members on self-management for chronic conditions consistent with CHW role and identified diagnoses including education on access to relevant CBOs.
• Documents patient information, assessments, interventions, encounters and any other all activities in the designated software system.
• Retrieves documentation from outside care organization such as history and physical, discharge summaries, and medication list to support effective transitions of care Protects Protected Health Information (PHI) and complies with Cook County Health Privacy Policy.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED is required. (Must provide proof at time of Interview)
• One (1) year of experience performing health risk screenings, providing health education or supporting linkages to community-based resources for a health care organization or community based social service agency is required.
• Previous experience with software and computers, i.e. word processing, appointment scheduling, Microsoft Office is required

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is preferred (Must provide official transcripts at time of Interview)
• Graduate of a Community Health Worker (CHW) Program is preferred (Must provide proof at time of Interview)
• Experience with or ability to learn assessment tools and interventions for hypertension, diabetes and mild to moderate depression is preferred.
• Experience and knowledge of Chicago’s West Side communities (resident of a West Side) is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities And Other Characteristics

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills necessary to communicate with all levels of staff and a patient population composed of diverse cultures and age groups.
• Ability to track meetings, appointments and emails in Microsoft Outlook.
• Ability to effectively prioritize work
• Ability to meet deadlines

Physical and Environmental Demands

This position is functioning within a healthcare environment. The incumbent is responsible for adherence to all hospital and department specific safety requirements. This includes but is not limited to the following policies and procedures: complying with Personal Protective Equipment requirements, hand washing and sanitizing practices, complying with department specific engineering and work practice controls and any other work area safety precautions as specified by hospital wide policy and departmental procedures.

VETERAN PREFERENCE

When applying for employment with the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service.

To Take Advantage Of This Preference a Veteran Must

• Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.
• Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, "Are you a Military Veteran?"
• Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, please submit the one with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11). Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable

OR

A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver’s License which identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.

If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference

VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER’S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW.

Benefits Package

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation Program
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time
• You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Must Meet Required Qualifications At Time Of Application

Degrees awarded outside of the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States’ territories and Canada must be credentialed by an approved U.S. credential evaluation service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview.

• Please note all offers of Employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications and the successful completion of a physical and pre-employment drug screen.
• CCHHS is strictly prohibited from conditioning, basing or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term or aspect of County employment or hiring upon or because of any political reason or factor.

COOK COUNTY HEALTH IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.