Community Health Worker - St. Francis Physician Services

Thank you for considering a career at Bon Secours!

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Work Shift:

Days (United States of America)

Primary Function/General Purpose of Position - The Community Health Worker (CHW) is a trusted member of the communities in which they work. The primary role of the CHW is to serve as liaisons between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery.  CHWs focus on addressing social needs so that the patient can improve upon the health of themselves and their families. CHWs build individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, education, informal counseling, social support, and advocacy. The CHW is responsible for: educating and assisting individuals and communities to meet their social needs and health goals; providing information on available resources; coordinating the plan of care; social support and informal counseling; advocating for individual and community health needs; and possibly providing services such as first aid and blood pressure screening. The CHW may also collect data to help identify community health needs. The CHW will be working in Outpatient within the Bon Secours Medical Group.

Essential Job Functions

• Community health navigation:

  • Provide relevant screenings as appropriate, including Social Determinants of Health Screening, and connect patients to local resources they may need (ex: food, clothing, housing, education, jobs, GED training, etc). 

  • Work with clients to reduce barriers in attending scheduled medical visits.

  • Assist patients in obtaining and optimizing health coverage, connecting to primary care providers, and reduce ED utilization.

  • Document all client interactions in an electronic health record (EHR).

  • Establish partnerships with existing Health System staff, community social workers, and other community workers.

• Outreach Support: 

  • Responsible for outreach both in the community and with local partners.

  • Contact patients in person, by phone, or in writing to lower barriers for completing required or recommended actions.

  • Advocate for patients to receive culturally competent health services or information.

  • Assist families to apply for social services, including Medicaid or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

  • Develop plans or formal contracts for individuals, families, or community groups to improve overall health.

  • Know and build relationships with local community members and leaders to determine health and social needs of the community and to build trust. 

• Community education and advocacy: 

  • Serves as a community connection point for convening community residents around public health programs, research interventions, and community assessments. 

• Customer Service: 

  • Consistently provide courteous, friendly, and solutions-oriented services to all clients. 

  • Arrive to work on time and keeps appointments on time. 

Education, Licensing/Certification, Language, and Training:

Education Qualifications -

Required Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED

Preferred Education:

Vocational/ Technical Degree

Licensing/ Certification -

Licensure/Certification Preferred:

State specific CHW certification is required (KY, OH, SC, VA).

Licensure/Certification Required:

SC is required, to obtain certification within one year of hire date of employment

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum Years and Type of Experience

 One-year previous work in health care, outreach work, community health, case management, or social work.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required

Sensitivity and experience in working within different cultures. Ability to communicate orally and in writing in English. Proficient with computers and accuracy with electronic health record entry, Microsoft Office, and Microsoft Excel. Ability to work independently or with minimal supervision as well as an integral member of a team. Maintain professional/ethical boundaries with patients. Ability to learn and implement new procedures and adapt to emerging community needs.

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred

Fluency in Spanish, Haitian Creole, or other market specific language needs dependent upon the patient