Community Health Worker/Mobile Unit

Lowell Community Health Center, Inc.; Lowell (MA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

The Lowell Community Health Center, Inc. is seeking a Community Health Worker to support patients in navigating services, coordinating care, and accessing community resources in urban and home settings.

Responsibilities include engaging patients in mobile health activities, providing culturally competent education, arranging transportation, and following up using telehealth tools, with emphasis on reducing barriers to care.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Valid driver’s license with clean driving record and ability to operate the mobile health unit.
• Spanish, Portuguese, Khmer, Swahili, and French/Arabic languages are required.
• Preferred college degree in health sciences or related field.
• Experience with EHRs, patient portals, mobile health tech or telehealth preferred.
• Willingness to travel to patient homes and community sites.

Responsibilities

• Meet patients in community settings to reinforce and advance health goals as directed by the Nurse Care Manager.
• Participate in mobile health and community outreach activities.
• Provide health education and basic health screenings.
• Identify patients who may benefit from mobile or community-based services and connect them to resources.
• Make weekly follow-up calls and regular home visits.
• Use phone, text, and telehealth to maintain contact and support care plans.
• Coordinate transportation for appointments and events.
• Support culturally sensitive services and collaborate with the care team.
• Document patient contacts and outreach in the electronic health record with confidentiality.

Skills

Organizational skills

Verbal and written communication

Interpersonal skills

Cultural competency

Patient engagement

Care coordination

Community outreach

Health education

Rapport building

Team collaboration

Electronic health records

Digital health technology

Documentation

Problem-solving

Independent work

Education

High school diploma or GED

College degree in health sciences or related field preferred

Tools

Electronic health records

Job description

ID#: 1040460484
Type: Regular Full Time
Category: Non Clinical
Base Pay: $27.32-$33.88/ Hour Hourly

Job Description

The Community Health Worker (CHW) delivers culturally competent services to help patients of all ages navigate and access community services, healthcare resources, and adopt healthy behaviors. The CHW assists with care coordination tasks such as appointments and transportation, patient education, and navigation of physical and behavioral health systems. The CHW facilitates communication between patients, providers, and other members of the care team and supports patients in self-management by evaluating their needs, assisting with care plan development, and working toward patient-centered goals.

The CHW will also support mobile and community-based health initiatives designed to bring healthcare education, prevention, screening, care coordination, and health resources directly to patients in their homes and communities. This may include participation in mobile health events, community outreach activities, remote patient engagement, health screenings, and other programs intended to reduce barriers to care and improve health outcomes.

Responsibilities

Meet patients in the community setting, emergency department, primary care office, hospital, or mobile health site to reinforce and advance patient goals as directed by the Nurse Care Manager.

Participates in mobile health and community outreach activities, including health fairs, screening events, neighborhood outreach, and other community-based initiatives.

Supports the delivery of health education, preventive health information, and basic health screenings within the scope of training and organizational protocols.

Helps identify patients who may benefit from mobile or community-based services and assists with connecting them to appropriate resources.

Makes weekly follow-up calls and regular home visits to patients.

Uses telephone, text messaging, approved digital health platforms, and other remote communication tools to maintain contact with patients and support care plans, as permitted by organizational policies.

Provides outreach and follow-up to patients who have difficulty accessing traditional healthcare settings.

Arranges and coordinates transportation as needed for patients to attend appointments, screenings, mobile health events, and other healthcare services.

Motivates patients and families to meet their health goals and supports ongoing self-management.

Provides culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate services to patients and families from diverse backgrounds.

Coordinates with the high-risk care team to access resources for identified problems, including homelessness, substance use, food insecurity, transportation barriers, and other social determinants of health after assessment by a licensed social worker/clinician.

Assists patients with organizing medical records, making follow-up appointments, and filling prescriptions.

Reinforces provider instructions and patient education related to preventive care, chronic disease management, medication adherence, and healthy behaviors.

Helps patients understand and appropriately use available healthcare and digital health resources, including patient portals and telehealth services.

Supports remote patient engagement and follow-up activities, including reminding patients about appointments, screenings, preventive services, and care plan activities.

Identifies barriers to care and communicates patient needs, concerns, and changes in condition to the appropriate member of the care team.

Documents patient contacts, outreach activities, referrals, education, and follow-up in the appropriate electronic health record or approved documentation system.

Maintains patient confidentiality and follows all applicable organizational policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

Participates in quality improvement initiatives and collects information related to community outreach, patient engagement, and health outcomes as requested.

Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of the position.

Qualifications

Current high school diploma or GED required.

Valid driver's license required, with a satisfactory driving record and the ability to safely operate and drive the organization's mobile health unit in accordance with organizational policies and applicable regulations.

Preferred college degree in related areas such as health sciences, healthcare, public health, customer service, administration, or a related field.

Spanish, Portuguese, Khmer, Swahili, and French/Arabic languages required.

Certificate in an Outreach Education program preferred.

Experience working in community health, healthcare outreach, care coordination, public health, social services, or a related setting preferred.

Experience using electronic health records, patient portals, mobile health technology, or telehealth platforms preferred.

Willingness and ability to travel to patient homes, community locations, mobile health sites, healthcare facilities, and other designated locations as required.

Skills, Abilities, and Competencies Required

• Organizational skills
• Verbal and written communication skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Customer relations
• Cultural competency
• Patient engagement and motivational skills
• Care coordination
• Community outreach
• Health education
• Ability to establish rapport and build trusting relationships with patients and families
• Ability to work effectively as part of an interdisciplinary care team
• Ability to use computers and electronic health records
• Ability to use approved mobile and digital health technologies
• Ability to document accurately and timely
• Ability to read and comprehend written instructions
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions
• Clerical skills
• Problem-solving and resource navigation skills
• Ability to work independently in community and home-based settings

Ability to maintain professional boundaries and patient