Jobs & Internships

Community Health Worker

Company: Hawaii Island Community Health Center

Position Title: Community Health Worker

Location: Pahoa, HI

Job Type: Full Time

Job Summary:

Under the general supervision of the Director of Health Equity and the Community Health Educator Supervisor, the Community Health Worker (CHW), has general responsibility for promoting wellness for individuals and their families through outreach services provided by Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center (HICHC) as well as advocating for their needs within their scope of practice.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

This position may have various work assignments within HICHC. This description is intended to be generic in nature, and as such it does not detail all of the duties and responsibilities of a particular job assignment. It is not intended to determine specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position, and essential functions and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned. Various duties, responsibilities and accountabilities may be assigned to an incumbent in this position depending on the specific job assignment, and may include but not be limited to the following: 

Health Access and Prevention 

  • With appropriate training and/or certification, CHW may enroll individuals into MedQuest, Marketplace or Medicare programs.   
  • Provides wellness by providing culturally appropriate health information to clients in community based settings (health fairs, school fairs, career fairs, health screenings, etc.) and within the health center. Facilitate warm hand offs to HICHC departments (clinical, BH, Pharmacy, etc.).    
  • Assists the Health Educator or Behavioral Health Department with outreach efforts in the community and core curriculum development for the prevention of chronic condition programs or other under-served special populations that include but not limited to: diabetes, mental health, tobacco cessation, vaping prevention, women’s wellness, or additional special populations such as homeless, justice involved, domestic violence, LGBTQ+, immigration, refugee, kupuna, COFA, children and adults with disabilities.   
  • Assists in educating community (non-patient) on disease prevention and self-management of chronic disease and medication adherence.
    Increases access to primary care through the sharing of HICHC literature, culturally competent outreaches and provides a warm hand off to a HICHC team member (Patient Navigation, Clinical, Pharmacy, Referral, Triage, or BH) in the coordination of referrals to specialists or services not offered at HICHC (transportation, third party referrals, etc.)
  • Responds to Epic basket, text messages and emails in a timely fashion (24-48 hours) to support community (non-patient) or patient needs

Health Outreach

  • Coordinates and conducts health related screenings that include blood pressure and blood glucose checks, following screening protocols as created by the Director of Nursing for high and low readings, captures biometrics that include weight and height.
  • Educates community members (non-patients) or patients about how to use the health care services and do a warm hand off to social service systems by providing HICHC literature and social support agency literature. Warm hand offs may involve support with access to transportation, education, food pantries/programs, street outreach, housing, workforce development, social support systems (documentation – SNAP/WIC/TANF/SS card, DMV, State ID, Government Cell Phone application, rental housing applications).   
  • Links community (non-patients) or patients to community resources depending upon the SDOH need utilizing online SDOH platforms and confirms the delivery of SDOH service in areas that include community engagement and healthcare access.

Health Literacy and Advocacy

  • Provides Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) support that link individuals with social and health care support to help build individual capacity to achieve wellness. Works collaboratively with other HICHC departments, especially the SDOH Case Management team.
  • Serves as a spokesperson for clients when they are unable to for themselves and advocates the needs of individuals to others.
  • Ensures that services are linguistically and culturally appropriate. Clients who do not speak English as a native language or who have hearing impairments must be appropriately accommodated.
  • Participates in special grant projects that focus on SDOH, MedQuest/Marketplace Enrollment or other HICHC initiatives that may involve partnerships with DOE, DOH, DHS, Non-Profits, Private Foundations or State and National affiliated groups (HPCA, NACHC, State CHW, etc)  
  • Accurate documentation and reporting for the following reports that include but not limited to: mileage, grant projects, outreach activity, # of health screenings, monthly goals, quarterly goals, or annual goals.  

CHW Team Development

  • Involvement in professional development through trainings.    
  • Demonstrates positive interpersonal relations in dealing with physicians, patients, patient families, visitors, co-workers, in a professional and confidential manner.
  • Embraces the philosophy of continuous quality improvement.
  • Maintains a safe, clean, and confidential working environment consistent with OSHA, HIPAA, and HHC and HRSA standards.
  • Communicates accurate and pertinent information with patient care providers and other members of the care delivery team to facilitate effective and efficient patient referrals.
  • Applies age-specific/cultural considerations.
  • Manages changes in work demand during work-day.
  • Ensures patient/family satisfaction with services.

This individual must be able to effectively communicate both in written and oral form.  This person must be capable of prioritizing and organizing tasks related to client care.  The community health worker is expected to support the Health Center's mission and adhere to Health Center policies and procedures, as well as applicable state and federal regulations. CHW’s are expected to demonstrate superior organization, ability to multi-task, have effective interpersonal skills and be an active part of the patient care team

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS      

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.

Education and Experience

  • High School graduate or GED certificate and two years of related clinical office experience and/or training is required; OR any equivalent combination of experience, training and/or education.   

Desirable experience includes:  

  • Familiarity with Hawaiʻi Health Care networks. o Community resources, service organizations and agencies on Hawaiʻi Island.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

  • This position requires a basic knowledge of general office procedures to include filing, copying, and faxing.   
  • Ability to use a computer to enter patient data and retrieve information.   
  • Ability to work on multiple tasks within established deadlines.  
  • Ability to work under the direction of a supervisor and follow instructions.   
  • Ability to take the initiative to resolve patient concerns and problems.   
  • Knowledge of patient chart documentation.
  • Ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form with a diverse population.
  • Demonstrates above average organizational capabilities.
  • Demonstrates above average teamwork capabilities.
    Ability to multitask in a supportive patient care role to a diverse population.

  
Language Skills

  • Ability to read and interpret documents such as government regulations and guidelines, patient records, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, etc.\
  • Ability to write at a minimal level of competence, including internal reports and memoranda.
  • Ability to communicate with diverse groups of people to include staff and providers and patients.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with patients and their families to make their visit a pleasant experience.   
  • ·     Sensitivity to the multicultural nature of the service area population and may be required to communicate in another language.

    For additional information and to apply for this job, click here.



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