Community Health Worker - BronxCare Health System

The Community Health Worker (CHW) will be responsible for helping patients and their families to navigate and access community series, other resources, and adopt healthy behaviors. The CHW supports providers and the Care Management Coordinator through an integrated approach to care management and community outreach. As a priority, activity will promote, maintain, and improve the health of patients and their family. Provide social support and informal counseling, advocate for individuals and community health needs, and provide services such as first aid, and blood pressure screening. Community outreach, such as home visits and health screening will be required.

- Establish and maintain positive relationships with patients, visitors, and other employees. Interacts professionally, courteously, and appropriately with patients, visitors and other employees. Behaves in a manner consistent with maintaining and furthering a positive public perception of BronxCare Health System and its employee.

- Contributes to and participates in the Performance/Quality Improvement activities of the assigned department. Contribution and participation includes data collection, analysis, implementation of and compliance with risk management and claims activities, support of and participation in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) teams, consistent adherence to the specific rules and regulations of the BronxCare Health System (a) Safety and Security Policies, (b) Risk Management: Incident and Occurrence Reporting, (c) Infection Control Policies and Procedures and (d) Patient and Customer Service, (e) Employee adherence to the Organization’s Policy, Procedures and Regulations.

- Responsible for establishing trusting relationships with patients and their families while providing general support and encouragement.

- Providing ongoing follow-up, basic motivational interviewing and goal setting with patients/families.

- Conduct intake interviews with patients, including enrolling and/or referring patients into programs.

- Follow-up with patients via phone calls, home visits and visits to other settings where patients can be found.

- Assist patients with competing application and registration forms.

- Conduct eligibility determination, enrollment and follow-ups with uninsured patients.

- Help patients set personal goals, and attend appointments.

- Provide referrals for services to community agencies as appropriate.

- Help patients connect with transportation resources and give appointment reminders in special circumstances.

- Exhibit excellent working relations with patient, visitors and staff, effectively communicating BCHS’s mission.

- Work closely with medical provider to help ensure that patients have comprehensive and coordinated care. Follow-up with patients should be continuous from initial identification through closure.

- Work cooperatively with other clinical personnel assigned to the same patient.

- Be knowledgeable about community resources appropriate to the needs of patients/families.

- Be responsible for providing consistent communication to the Care Management Coordinator to evaluate patient/family status, ensuring that provided information, and reports clearly describe progress.

-Act as a patient advocate and liaison between the patient/family and community service agencies (i.e., Schools, Department of Human Services, Health Care for Homeless, hospitals, support groups, etc.)

- Record patient care management information in EMR (training provided) no later than 24 hours after patient contact.

- Attend regular staff meetings, trainings and other meetings as requested.

- Manage assigned caseload of patients.

- Successful completion of Community Health Worker formal training program such as from a college or other education institution is preferred.

- Experience working in a multi-cultural setting

- Experience working in a community-based setting for at least 1 to 2 years preferred

- Knowledge of Medical terminology preferred

- Good communication skills, such as listening well, and using language appropriately.

- High School or Equivalent

- Some College

- Basic Computer Skills

- Ability to initiate and maintain positive working relationships with BCHS staff and other organizations.

- Understand the community served – community connectedness

- Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement and motivation to patients.