Community Health Worker (CHW/Promotor/a)

Position Summary

Community Health Workers (CHWs) will assist patients with coordinating their healthcare needs to help them improve their health and well-being. This position will include working closely with each patient and their provider(s) on developing a treatment plan that will assist them in meeting specific healthcare goals. The CHW will understand individual patient health risks and treatments and work with the patient and their healthcare team on reducing those risks and improving their overall health. May provide information on available resources, advocate for individuals and provide services such as blood pressure screenings. Will collect data to help identify community health needs. CHW will work closely with medical providers, primary care teams, and other agencies to improve patient care and outcomes.

Major Activities and End Results:

1. Work with the health care team to identify patients at risk of hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic health conditions.
2. Establish a one-on-one relationship with each patient in a specific patient panel and track and record their progress on measurable health outcomes.
3. Assist patients with understanding their treatment plans and the importance of adhering to provider recommendations to improve their health and well-being.
4. Coach patients in effectively managing their chronic health conditions and self-care through various means (phone, email, Zoom/Skype, in-person home or clinic visits, or email).
5. Ensure the patient database is always well-maintained, making sure to include all necessary notes, forms, and supplementary information through weekly checks and updates to promote efficiency.
6. Identify social and economic issues (social determinants of health) that may be a barrier to patients’ overall health and provide referrals and assistance.
7. Coordinate transportation for patients to meet appointments, including referrals to outside providers and behavioral health appointments.
8. Build and maintain positive working relationships with the patients, providers, MAs, office staff, supervisors, and other agencies and groups.
9. Distribute flyers, brochures, or other informational or educational documents to reach specific underserved communities for potential services.
10. Interpret, translate, and provide advocacy related to health services or information for patients.
11. Complete administrative tasks on an ongoing basis to ensure proper and organized record keeping, working with staff members when/if necessary.
12. Continuously expand knowledge and understanding of community resources, services, and programs.
13. Provide health education to co-workers and outside agencies specifically related to hypertension and other chronic disease management.
14. Other duties as assigned.

Experience, Knowledge, and Skills      

• Proficient in computer skills such as Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Continuous self-study learning/education. 
• Understand and maintain professional boundaries with patients.
• Be an active, integrated team member.
• Promote a culture in which each patient’s point of view and preferences are recognized, understood, respected, and integrated into treatment and community self-help activities. 
• Work with and provide services to a wide range of culturally and linguistically diverse persons.
• Maintain patient confidentiality according to HIPAA.

Qualifications:

• Required
  • Certification as a Community Health Worker or Promotora with the NM Department of Health or an Associate’s Degree in Human/Social Services, Public Health, or a related field or a minimum of two (2) years of experience working with vulnerable populations.
  • Bilingual in Spanish/English
• Must be willing to use a personal, reliable vehicle with mileage reimbursement for fieldwork in the course of employment. 
• Must possess and maintain a current valid Driver’s License in the state where the candidate is residing. Must maintain a clean driving record. Must provide current personal owner liability automobile insurance and must maintain the insurance coverage current throughout the course of employment in this position.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: Most work time is in an office. Frequent local travel is required. The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. • Physical demands: While performing duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, computers, files, and other general office equipment and products, and must drive to other locations. Employees may be asked to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  • Work environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

 Disclaimer: The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, or to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.

 General Statement: The employee is expected to adhere to all company policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to said policies.