Community Health Worker - Infectious Diseases Clinic - Saint Michaels Medical Center

Join an award-winning team of dedicated professionals committed to our core values of quality, compassion and community! Saint Michael's Medical Center, a member of Prime Healthcare, offers incredible opportunities to expand your horizons and be part of a community dedicated to making a difference.

Established by the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor in 1867, Saint Michael's Medical Center is a 358-bed regional tertiary-care, teaching, and research center in the heart of Newark's business and educational district and is accredited by The Joint Commission. Combining state-of-the-art technology, the latest diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, leading-edge research, and a network of highly qualified physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals, the hospital provides top-quality health care services delivered with compassionate care.

The first medical institution in New Jersey to perform open-heart surgery, and the first to develop a cardiac catheterization program, Saint Michael's Medical Center is home to the Heart and Vascular Institute, which offers a comprehensive array of innovative cardiac treatments and procedures. Learn more at www.smmcnj.com.

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Community Health Workers use their unique position as trained community members to provide trust-based information and focused education, help clients (patients) cope with and overcome fear, walk clients through the often-complex healthcare system, and help them strategize to manage the logistics of caring for oneself in the context of a complicated life. CHWs are defined as role model peers who share the same experiences and community membership and who are trained to provide effective services that increase the retention, and medication adherence/viral suppression of the people they serve. In fact, reminder phone calls, phone check-ins to ascertain reasons for missing an appointment, and appointment accompaniment (e.g. received a letter of lapsed health insurance coverage, for medical care, legal services, social services, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)-related appointments) are among the most common CHW tasks. Peers can also be used to perform community outreach and home visits—something that may not be possible for case managers, LCCs or front desk staff due to caseloads and required office-based tasks.

Education and Work Experience

1. Commitment: Passion about working to improve the health and quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS.
2. Knowledge: Must have demonstrated knowledge of HIV/AIDS and HIV medical care services in their region of NJ, along with an interest and ability to expand knowledge through training. Knowledge of regional community resources/services is important. Ability to assess clients for needs related to treatment education, risk reduction and prevention.
3. Must demonstrate experience with issues related to HIV care and treatment. Familiarity with issues that put people at risk for poorer health is also highly helpful, such as homelessness, incarceration, domestic violence, and/or substance abuse.
4. Strong communication skills are essential. Demonstrated ability to conduct sensitive, empathetic interviews and conversations that highly respect the dignity and diversity of clients. Ability to engage staff and clients in a supportive and empowering way. Ability to help manage conflict. Ability to work effectively within a team. Ability to maintain client records, extract relevant demographic and disease information and adhere to privacy and confidentiality protocol. Basic computer skills required.
5. Personal qualities including energy, intelligence, diplomacy, sound practical judgment, the ability to work independently during periods of less supervision; the ability to work effectively in a busy environment; and the interpersonal skills to work effectively in partnership with other program staff and others in the agency. Resourcefulness will be required to assist clients, as well as good judgement and decision making.
6. A high school diploma or GED is required for this position
7. A valid driver’s license is required for this position.