What are the responsibilities and job description for the COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER position at Cooper Norcross Health?
At Cooper University Health Care, our commitment to providing extraordinary health care begins with our team. Our extraordinary professionals are continuously discovering clinical innovations and enhanced access to the most up-to-date facilities, equipment, technologies and research protocols. We have a commitment to our employees to provide competitive rates and compensation programs. Cooper offers full and part-time employees a comprehensive benefits program, including health, dental, vision, life, disability, and retirement. We also provide attractive working conditions and opportunities for career growth through professional development.
Discover why Cooper University Health Care is the employer of choice in South Jersey.
Short Description
The Community Health Worker (CHW) position is to identify, address and alleviate social barriers that prevent patients from achieving their highest health level.
Cooper’s 2022 Community Health Needs Assessment reports that 4 primary zip codes for Camden City have the highest (5.0) Community Needs Index which assesses for socioeconomic indicators including income, cultural barrier, education, health insurance, and housing (Cooper.CHNA.CHIP.2022.pdf (cooperhealth.org).
The CHW primarily service Cooper patients living in and around the Camden-city area.
The CHWs offer patients telephonic and in-person support to provide the necessary resources and navigation services to address social determinants of health including food insecurity, housing, transportation, and more.
In turn, patients are more able and willing to attend to and seek help for their health care concerns.
Responsibilities:
Create and set patient-specific goals using brief action planning skills to address and eliminate social barriers effecting care
Field work – meet patients in the home and community settings including hospital and ambulatory clinical settings to deliver culturally competent and linguistically appropriate health education materials and community resources related to goals to patients and family/support systems
Coach patients towards effective self-management and self-efficacy for goal achievement using motivational interviewing techniques.
Assist patients in scheduling health care and social appointments, transportation, and other appointments, as needed
Work closely with medical providers, primary care teams, health advisors, community-based organizations and other agencies to support patients’ goals.
Visit and maintain relationships with Community-based organizations. Act as liaison between patient and community-based organization.
Maintain detailed calendar and bookkeeping to ensure timely follow-up to patients and track activities.
Documentation must include all interactions and outreach performed by team members and completed in the electronic medical record.
Maintain current knowledge of social determinants of health, community-based organizations, CHW best practices, and understanding of social landscape and vulnerability of target population.
Experience Required
0 - 2 years required in a Community Health or Public Health setting
3 - 5 Preferred
Education Requirements
REQUIRED: High School Diploma
PREFERRED: Bachelor's Degree
Population Health, Public Health, Community Health, Health Sciences, Social Work
Special Requirements
PREFERRED:
Community Health Worker Certification
Disease Specific Health Education Certification (ex: Diabetes Educator/Paraprofessional)
Complex Care Certification