Community Health Worker Ii, Social Services

Location: UC Medical Center
Department: Social Services
Hours: 40 Hours/Weekly
Shift: First Shift

The community Health Worker will act as the liaison between University of Cincinnati Medical Center patients and medical homes or community based healthcare providers.

The primary goal of the Community Healthcare Worker will be to:

• Educate and direct patients to available community based healthcare services.
• Identify patients who are in need of primary care, medical home, community providers and UC Health outpatient services.
• Facilitate and monitor patient's transition into medical homes and community based healthcare services.

Responsibilities

Engages in population appropriate communication. Has knowledge of growth and development milestones and tasks. Gives clear instructions to patients/family regarding treatment. Involves family/guardian in the assessment, initial treatment and continuing care of the patient. Identifies any physical limitations of the patient and deploys intervention when necessary. Recognizes and responds appropriately to patients/families with behavioral health problems. Interprets population related data and plans care appropriately. Identifies and responds appropriately to different needs resulting from, unique psychological needs or those associated with religious / cultural norms. Performs treatments, administers medication or operates equipment safely. Recognizes and responds to signs/symptoms of abuse or neglect.

Patient liaison for medical homes:

• Provide information, education and resources to patients to assist them in overcoming barriers to accessing healthcare and in following through with scheduled visits. Set appointments for patients with community medical homes, health service providers and UC Health outpatient services. Provide informal counseling, social support, and culturally appropriate health education. Contact patients for appointment reminders. Act as advocate for patients and families with community medical homes: and health service providers. Follow up with patients and providers after scheduled appointments. Facilitate conflict resolution.
• Identify patients who are in need of medical home services or community based health care services. Collaborate with ED care team and proactively monitor ED tracking system to identify patients who are in need of medical home services and healthcare access education.

Community Relationship:

• Build and foster relationships and collaborative with community medical homes and other community based health service providers. Collaborate with UC Health clinical departments and ancillary services to ensure efficient patient transition to the outpatient clinics.
• Maintain an updated database of community medical home facilities. Maintain database of outreach work and referred patients. Generate database to measure community healthcare programs success. Benchmark internal processes to improve practice and demonstrate efficiency through appropriate use of resources. Enter tracking data into Care Scope.

Qualifications

Knowledge and Skills

Education:

Minimum required: Associate degree - Healthcare or Social Work.

Preferred: Bachelor's Degree - Healthcare or Social Work

Years of Experience:

Minimum of three years healthcare outreach experience for associate degree holders, minimum of one year healthcare experience outreach experience for bachelor degree holders.

Required Skills and Knowledge:

• Working knowledge of local community-based healthcare network.
• Knowledge of accepted ethical standards within the medical community and professional organization.
• Demonstrates effective problem solving/decision making abilities.
• Ability to communicate with clinical staff with basic clinical terminology.
• Able to work in fast passed environment where conditions can change rapidly.
• Knowledge of persons in crisis.
• Effective communicator with ability to speak to large groups as well as individuals from all backgrounds (both in person and over the phone).
• Working knowledge of hospital terminology, policies and procedures.
• Working knowledge of general computer operating systems, specifically Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).