Community Health Worker

JOB SUMMARY

Health Federation of Philadelphia’s care management program is aimed at reducing health inequities, addressing social determinants of health, and improving health outcomes for low-income patients struggling with chronic physical and mental health conditions. We are seeking an experienced and tech-savvy Community Health Worker who is familiar with the pace of, and populations served by, community-based health care providers in Philadelphia.

This position will be part of a team of four, including the Team Manager (a social worker), and two other Community Health Workers who work with six community health centers and a Medicaid Managed Care Organization (MCO) to achieve improved outcomes for health center patients enrolled with the MCO and attributed to one of the health centers.  The Team works to assess needs of patients at high risk of poor health outcomes, and to engage these individuals in primary care and other services, with the goals of improving health status and reducing hospitalizations, as well as to address quality metrics and “care gaps”.  The Team engages patients not receiving regular care at their assigned primary care location and/or have recent hospital contact (inpatient and/or Emergency Department).

This position is primarily telephonic, with the potential for some outreach to take place at local hospitals, community health centers, and patient homes. This role includes using a variety of software systems daily, including Google suite applications (Sheets, Forms, Docs), population health management tools, and various systems to remote into secure environments.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

Responsibilities/Duties:

• Engages patients to address social and medical barriers to good health, and reinforce self-management for positive health outcomes.
• Assists patients in overcoming barriers to ensure attendance at  primary and specialist care, mental health, and other  appointments
• Connects and guides patients to community resources and assists in navigating the healthcare system.
• Performs follow up calls for patients recently discharged from acute hospitalizations and who are considered to be high risk for readmission. As needed, perform hospital visits and/or home visits.
• Collaborates with health center based providers, inpatient facilities, the Medicaid MCO, and skilled nursing facilities to manage care across the healthcare continuum and optimize clinical and financial outcomes.
• Maintains accurate and timely documentation.
• Maintains constant communication with health center care teams to ensure that all members of the patients’ healthcare team are informed and duplication of effort is avoided.
• Efficiently navigates Google suites and remote environments to review and analyze data, and document and respond to daily tasks.
• This position is hybrid with 40% remote work and the remainder 60% working between the office and community.

Education:

H.S. Diploma/GED required

CHW certification a plus

Required Qualifications/Skills:

• Demonstrates customer focused interpersonal skills to interact in an effective manner with providers,health center staff,, community agencies, patients, and families with diverse opinions, values, and religious and cultural ideals.
• Demonstrates ability to work autonomously and be directly accountable for practice.
• Demonstrates ability to function effectively in a fluid, dynamic and rapidly changing environment.
• Demonstrates leadership qualities including time management, verbal and written communication skills, listening skills, problem solving, critical thinking, analysis skills and decision-making, priority setting, work delegation, and work organization.
• Demonstrates ability to develop positive, longitudinal relationships and set appropriate boundaries with patients/families.
• Adept with technology and data, including electronic health records, payer portals, Microsoft office, and Google apps.
• Ability to travel locally

Preferred qualifications:

• Bilingual in Spanish
• Community health center and/or Medicaid program experience a plus.
• Good knowledge of Philadelphia neighborhoods and the resources of these communities.

Position Type and Work Schedule: This is a full-time, non-exempt position. 

Work Environment: Standard office setting, plus regularly scheduled meetings, training, etc. with participating health centers, occasional home or hospital visits.

Physical Demands: Able to sit and work at a computer keyboard for extended periods of time.  Able to lift and move up to 15 pounds.

Travel  Must be able to get around effectively within Philadelphia and surrounding counties, either on public transportation and/or in own vehicle.  Limited travel beyond surrounding counties will be required, as well.

Salary and Benefits  $20.00- $25.00 hour.  Our employees are our most valuable resource, so we offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, which can include:

• Medical with vision benefits
• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life, AD&D and long term care insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• 403(b) Retirement plan, with a company contribution
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick, personal and holiday
• Employee Assistance Program

Eligibility and participation is handled consistent with the plan documents and HFP policy.