Community Health Worker-Women's Reproductive Health

Summary

The Community Health Worker is responsible for serving as a liaison/connector between the patient, care team, and the community. This position will help to bridge conversations with patients and remove barriers that prevent them from accessing health and social services. The position may conduct telephonic and/or face-to-face outreach to panel of patients for appointment scheduling, needs assessment, and care gap closure.

The CHW will assess, plan, implement, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate healthcare options and services with the goal of increasing the likelihood of improvement to the health status of identified populations across the practice. This involves providing education and support with navigating the healthcare system internally and externally.

• See Additional Requirements for Women’s Reproductive Health grant. **
  
  

PRIMARY DUTIES And RESPONSIBILITIES

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Primary Duties May Include, But Are Not Limited To

• Meeting the patient in clinic, facility or at home to help identify social determinants of health impacting patient’s health and general well-being.
• Collaborates with care team members to develop a care/action plan.
• Develops trusting relationships with patients by providing support and advocacy to help achieve health goals.
• Assists patients in accessing health-related services and community resources, such as accompaniment to specialist appointments and assistance with enrollment forms.
• Facilitates communication between all parties (patients, families, colleagues, and community-based organizations) as needed.
• Documents interactions with patients and on behalf of patients in medical record.
• Attends meetings as required.
• Maintain a resource file of available social service agencies and assistance providers in community for use in referring patients in the future.
• Physical attendance is an essential element of the job and necessary to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Actively demonstrates dedication and commitment to the core values of MNHC.
  
  

NC DHHS – Women’s Reproductive Health Specific responsibilities

Training Requirements

• Be or become familiar with Providing Quality Family Planning Services: Recommendations from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Provide services consistent with the above and other relevant nationally recognized standards of care published by organizations such as the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP), and the United States Preventive Services Taskforce (USPSTF).
• Administer the patient experience survey to patients accessing contraceptive services
• Complete the contraceptive counseling training identified by NC DHHS Women, Infant, and Community Wellness Section.
• Complete the community engagement training to assist with increasing awareness of contraceptive services.
  
  

The Women’s Reproductive Health CHW will be hired to:

• Increase awareness of the reproductive services being provided at the site by:
• Conduct outreach and education either one-on-one or in a group session on topics such as Medicaid enrollment, WIC, reproductive life planning, preconception and inter-conception health and other related areas.
• When providing outreach and educational sessions tracking of data to include date and location of the event or session, number of persons in attendance, and the topic or focus area.
• Commit to attending no less than five outreach/community events during the program year to promote awareness of reproductive services.
• Tracking of the number of participants targeted, the information provided, and the number of referrals to the clinic will be tracked by the CHW.
• Provide and track incentive items provided to program participants to ensure that their level of commitment is a priority so that MedNorth can achieve the expected outcomes of the program.
• The incentives for program participants will be appropriate for the level of participation and will include $10.00 food or gas cards, and/or MedNorth swag such as water bottles, tote bags, pens, pencils, etc. that may be given out during outreach events.
• Screen for social determinants of health, make referrals based on participant need for resources.
• Document services provided and referrals made to persons of reproductive age served within MedNorth’s electronic medical record.
• Commit to receiving relevant training facilitated by the Area Health Education Center
• Obtain Certification from the NC Community Health Worker Association or enroll in a Community College based certification program within six months of being hired if not already certified in NC.
• Commit to attending community engagement training to assist with increasing the number of individuals aware of services within the community.
  

Required Education And Experience

Education

• Certified Community Health Worker preferred or Community Health Worker relevant or lived experience.
• If not certified, must pursue CHW certification within 6 months of employment or ability to submit application for certification.
• High School diploma or GED equivalent from an accredited institution.
• Some college level education preferred.
  

Experience

• 3 years of experience in a healthcare, community-based, or social work environment.
• or any combination of education and experience, which would provide an equivalent background and or lived experiences.
• Proficiency with computers, electronic documentation, and willingness to learn new systems.
• Demonstrated understanding of and is part of the community being served.
• Ability to read, write, and speak the native language of the population served.
• Information Technology skills: Ability to use Laptops, Smartphones, Internet/online application systems, Microsoft Office, etc.
• Experience in community work, education, health care, or related field preferred.
• Bilingual-English/Spanish preferred but not required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of navigating health insurance marketplace and/or other insurance and payment options for low income or indigent patients.
• Must possess knowledge of a broad range of social services and assistance providers in community.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team and work effectively with community agencies.
• Must have valid driver’s license and reliable insured transportation as travel is required.
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Ability to communicate easily with others, including demonstrating active listening skills.
• Demonstrates group facilitation skills.
• Demonstrates flexibility in addressing changing community needs and program environment.
• Create connections between vulnerable populations and healthcare providers
• Help patients navigate healthcare and social service systems
• Manage care and care transitions for vulnerable populations
• Ensure cultural competence among healthcare providers serving vulnerable populations
• Educate healthcare providers and stakeholders about community health needs
• Provide culturally appropriate health education on topics related to chronic disease prevention, physical activity, and nutrition
• Advocate for underserved individuals or communities to receive services and resources to address health needs
• Collect data and relay information to stakeholders to inform programs and policies
• Provide informal counseling, health screenings, and referrals while maintaining confidentiality.
• Has knowledge of the basic workings of the health center.
• Demonstrates good customer service and acts in a professional manner.
  
  

Physical Demands

The physical demands described herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, talk, and hear, use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee is frequently required to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

The special vision requirements for this job are close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less), color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors).

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described herein are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions for this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Inside a multi-cultural medical/dental/Behavioral Health clinic, which delivers comprehensive health care services to the disadvantaged and underserved. The building is heated in winter and air conditioned in the summer with noise levels of moderate to loud. Children crying and screaming. Loud talking patients. Patients speak multiple languages at the same time. Loudspeaker and/or paging. May be subject to exposure to copier toner, correction fluid, and bright fluorescent lighting.

MedNorth Health Center is an equal opportunity employer. Hiring decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or veteran status.

This job is for Bloodborne Pathogens risk category III position.

General Expectations

• The incumbent is expected to attend work daily and to be at work on time.
• The incumbent is expected to report absences in accordance with personnel policies and procedures.
• The incumbent's work is expected to be accurate, neat, and thorough, and completed on time.
• The incumbent is expected to have a positive attitude, be cooperative, and considerate of others.
• The incumbent is expected to be dependable and is expected to accept responsibility for assignments and duties given.
• The incumbent has the ability to receive and express detailed information through oral and written communications.
• The incumbent is expected to dress and act in a professional manner and adhere to all safety standards.
• The incumbent is expected to participate in staff meetings, be courteous and polite with patients and other staff.
• The incumbent is expected to maintain confidentiality.