Community Health Worker

Cleveland Clinic•Mayfield Heights, OH

About The Position

The Community Health Worker (CHW) connects diverse and underserved populations to health and social service systems. The role primarily works in the community with specific target populations and collaborates with medical providers, primary care teams, and other agencies to improve patient care and outcomes. CHWs build trusting relationships and act as liaisons between health and social services and the community, helping improve access to services and the cultural quality of care while building individual and community capacity through education, outreach, counseling, support, and advocacy. The caregiver works Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional community events scheduled with advance notice and covered through team rotation. The position may involve home visits and requires following Standard Precautions and using personal protective equipment as required.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Valid driver’s license.
Knowledge of community resources.
Community Health Worker (CHW) certification through the Board of Nursing.
Ability to develop trusting and effective working relationships.
Strong information-gathering, interviewing, and time-management skills.

Nice To Haves

One year of experience in a medical office setting.
Two years of community service experience.
Bilingual in English and Spanish.
Medical Assistant training or certification.
Knowledge of medical terminology.
Knowledge of electronic medical records (EMR).
Epic experience.
Experience as a CNA, Medical Assistant, or in another patient-facing healthcare role.
Community outreach or human services experience.

Responsibilities

Establish trusting relationships with patients and their families, providing support, encouragement, and feedback.
Coach patients in managing chronic health conditions and practicing self-care.
Explain program purposes and services to the user population and describe their potential impact.
Help patients understand care plans and instructions.
Visit patients in their homes as needed to assess patients and their living conditions and meet with family members or caretakers.
Document activities, service plans, and results effectively while adhering to applicable policies and procedures.
Advocate for patients and serve as a liaison between patients or families and community service agencies, such as schools, hospitals, and support groups.
Help patients use resources, including scheduling appointments and completing applications for programs for which they may be eligible.
Help patients access health-related services, including obtaining and using a medical home and overcoming barriers to medical care and social services.
Facilitate communication and coordinate services between providers.
Motivate patients to be active and engaged participants in their health.
Work effectively with staff, clients, doctors, agencies, and others from diverse backgrounds to reduce cultural and socioeconomic barriers between clients and institutions.
Build and maintain positive working relationships with clients, providers, nurse case managers, agency representatives, supervisors, and office staff.
Continuously expand knowledge of community resources and programs, human relations, public-service procedures, volunteer resources and practices, departmental operations and policies, and resources for handling new or unusual situations.