Patient Health Educator

Henrietta Johnson Medical Center; Wilmington (DE); On-site; USD 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance (Medical / Dental / V

Long-Term Disability

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Short-Term Disability Option

Job summary

Henrietta Johnson Medical Center seeks a Patient Health Educator to support patients with chronic diseases through education, coaching, and follow-up to improve self-management and adherence to care plans. The role emphasizes clear communication and culturally responsive teaching.

The position collaborates with care teams to address barriers like health literacy and social determinants of health, with a focus on keeping patients engaged in care and improving outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• At least two years in patient education, community health, care coordination, or ambulatory care.
• Knowledge of chronic disease management and patient-centered communication.

Responsibilities

• Receives referrals for patients struggling with adherence and care plans.
• Provides education on chronic disease self-management, nutrition, medications, preventive care, and healthy lifestyles.
• Assesses barriers to adherence and escalates needs to the team.

Skills

Chronic disease education

Care coordination

Patient-centered communication

Documentation in EHR

Education

Bachelor's degree in health education, public health, nursing, social work, or related field

Tools

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Standard business software

Job description

Henrietta Johnson Medical Center (HJMC) is a Federally Qualified Health Center with sites in Wilmington and Claymont, Delaware, providing an all-inclusive range of medical and dental services for the entire family. HJMC provides affordable access to integrated and coordinated family practice, women's health, dental, and behavioral health care services under one roof, with a team of caring, competent, and productive providers and staff focused on quality, compassionate, and coordinated care.

About This Role

The Patient Health Educator works with patients with chronic diseases who need additional support between visits. The role provides culturally responsive education, coaching, and follow-up to strengthen self-management, reinforce care plans, reduce avoidable utilization, and improve quality outcomes in a federally qualified health center environment.

What You'll Do

• Receives referrals from care coordination or clinical teams for patients experiencing difficulty following treatment plans, medications, or recommended preventive care.
• Provides one-to-one and small-group education regarding chronic disease self-management, nutrition, medication adherence, preventive care, and healthy lifestyle practices using plain language and evidence-based teaching methods.
• Assesses barriers to adherence, including transportation, health literacy, financial hardship, housing instability, and other social determinants of health, and escalates needs to the appropriate team member.
• Conducts outbound outreach and follow-up by telephone, portal, and in-person contact as appropriate to reinforce care plans and assist patients with staying engaged in care.
• Documents patient contacts, education provided, and identified barriers in the electronic health record in a timely and accurate manner.
• Collaborates with providers, nurses, case managers, community health workers, and referral partners to support plan-of-care goals and close gaps in care.
• Supports quality improvement, preventive care campaigns, and value-based initiatives through patient engagement and panel management activities.
• Maintains confidentiality, follows HIPAA minimum-necessary standards, and participates in training, huddles, and team meetings.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in health education, public health, nursing, social work, or a related field; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• At least two years of experience in patient education, community health, care coordination, or a related ambulatory care setting.
• Knowledge of chronic disease management principles and patient-centered communication techniques.
• Ability to document accurately in an electronic health record and use standard business software.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) or comparable certification.
• Experience working in an FQHC, primary care setting, or value-based care environment.
• Training in motivational interviewing, trauma-informed communication, and health literacy best practices.

This Role Is Grant-Funded

This position is funded through Delaware's federal Rural Health Transformation Program grant, awarded through the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. Although the RHT award covers a five-year project period, funding is approved and allocated annually, and continued employment in this role is contingent on annual grant reapproval.

Compensation and Benefits

This role offers a competitive salary based on experience and community health center pay standards in Delaware. Employees enjoy a range of benefits, including:

• Health Insurance (Medical / Dental / Vision)
• Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Short-Term Disability Option

Equal Opportunity Employer

Henrietta Johnson Medical Center is an equal opportunity employer.

Questions About This Role

Contact [e-mail] or [e-mail].