Description

This position is an integral part of our Food as Medicine program and will work with patients in the program as well as those directly involved in the Food as Medicine grant. As a Community Health Worker, you will support the healthcare team by providing patient coaching and conducting motivational interviewing to support patients, families, and caregivers in achieving self-management, self-efficiency, and behavior changes to improve patient health and care outcomes. You will also assist in referring our patients to various community resources and enrolling them in the Food as Medicine program.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Establishes trusting relationships with patients and their families while providing general support and encouragement.
• Provides ongoing follow up, basic motivational interviewing and goal setting with patients/families.
• Assists with identifying patients who are food insecure through Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) screener.
• Enroll patients in Food as Medicine program.
• Serves as a liaison between clinical staff and patient, by following up with patients regarding their appointments, referrals, and needed resources.
• Helps patients set personal goals and attend appointments.
• Assist with connecting patients to resources such as food box program and food pantries.
• Helps patients connect with transportation resources and gives appointment reminders to aid in compliance with prescribed plan of care.
• Assist with connecting patients to Dietician, Clinical Pharmacist and on-site clinical care team as needed.
• Works closely with integrated medical team to ensure that patients have comprehensive and coordinated care.
• Remains knowledgeable about community resources appropriate to needs of patient/family.
• Continuously validates and evaluates the effectiveness of the community resources.
• Enables and improves culturally and linguistically competent services and care by making efforts to understand the community culture and resources.
• Conducts outreach, implements programs in community that promotes, maintains and improves community health needs and provides resources.
• Collects data to help identify community health needs.
• Advises community groups on nutrition.
• Advises clients on general health and exercise and self- care activities.
• Identifies age appropriate needs and resources.
• Provides situation appropriate social support to the patient utilizing experience lived and learned through training provided at HL
• Provides informal counseling as needed.
• All HealthLinc staff is committed to engage in quality improvement initiatives that align with and support Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH).

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Training

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Completion of Community Health Worker Certification (not required but highly preferred)
• Certified Medical Interpreter-Spanish (not required but highly preferred)

Experience

• At least 1-2 years of experience as patient/community facing role within a nonprofit environment, food pantry, WIC, etc.

Skills/Job Requirement

• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Proven ability to work well in a team environment
• Ability to remain flexible and adaptable
• Knowledge of some medical terminology
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Transportation and valid driver’s license
• Ability to follow HealthLinc policies and procedures

Technology Skills

• Operate a multi-line phone system and other office equipment including printers, fax machines, etc.
• Basic computer skills (Microsoft Office, EHR, online sources, etc.)

DIRECT SUPERVISION:

• N/A