The Community Health Worker addresses social determinants of health by providing direct patient care, resource navigation, and health education. They also conduct community outreach and collaborate with partners to improve patient access to healthcare services.
Requirements summary
Requires a high school diploma, a Traditional Healthcare Worker certification, and two years of relevant experience, including one year with underserved populations. A valid driver's license and BLS/CPR certification are also required.
Department Overview Family Medicine at South Waterfront is a high-volume primary care clinic located in the Center for Health & Healing 1 building.
The clinic provides comprehensive, lifespan care to patients across all stages of life through in-person, virtual, and telephone visits.
Services include general family medicine, transgender health care, maternity and prenatal care (including deliveries), pediatric care, behavioral health and counseling, sports medicine, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), podiatry and foot care, acupuncture, minor procedures, and preventive health services.
Clinical care includes medication administration (oral and injectable), telephone and in-clinic triage, care coordination and management, patient education, complex wound care, pain management, and behavioral health support, including crisis intervention.
The Community Health Worker is a member of the primary care team who addresses social determinants of health in support of patients and their families achieving optimal physical, social, and emotional health.
Acts as expert team member around social determinants of health, system navigation, and community resources.
Provides direct patient care as well as administrative tasks related to clinic SDH screening.
Responsibilities include culturally appropriate health promotion and education, outreach, and community engagement.
The Community Health Worker demonstrates strong verbal and written communication skills, is self-directed, and is skilled at developing relationships quickly.
The incumbent is efficient and effective in assessing and delivering direct patient care, has an in-depth knowledge of local community resources, is innovative, thinks creatively, and demonstrates flexibility.
Function/Duties of Position Direct Patient Services and Documentation Respond to care team referrals and patient self-referrals for care coordination, individual and family support, health promotion, and resource system navigation.
Areas of knowledge include mother/baby, substance use, mental health, senior services, disability, basic needs (housing, food, clothing), chronic disease management, supportive counseling, behavioral activation.
Documents services appropriately in EHR in accordance with existing workflows to ensure continuity of care.
Maintains accessibility via department standard means (phone, pager, email, etc) Maintains appropriate professional boundaries as a part of the primary care team.
Health Education/Promotion Develops and delivers culturally congruent and trauma informed health education classes, presentations, and written materials for a variety of audiences to include healthcare providers, community members, and patients.
Such classes and materials could focus on system navigation, management of chronic diseases, and concrete skills such as healthful cooking or money management.
Develops systems and services that encourage patient engagement and increase health behavior change.
Innovation in this area may include community-based interventions, home visits, family system intervention.
Outreach Performs assessment of clinic community and patient population needs in coordination with appropriate clinic leadership.
Develops and delivers outreach to identified targeted populations.
Coordinates and collaborates with community partners to increase successful patient referrals.
Represents and promotes program to internal and community partners.
Community Engagement Develop and maintain effective working relationships with care team members, patients, and community partners.
Participates in regular team, group, and individual care conferences in order to provide CHW professional perspective and provide support for patient, as needed.
Collaborates with clinic patient advisory groups in order to increase participation through bridging relational gaps.
Required Qualifications High school diploma or equivalent.
2 years relevant work experience in mission-driven organization with one of those years being work experience with underserved populations with complex medical and social needs.
Preferred experience in community outreach services providing health information, advocacy, social support, and assistance engaging with the healthcare system.
Certification as Traditional Healthcare Worker (THW) required.
Traditional Health Worker types include Doula, Peer Support Specialist (PSS), Peer Wellness Specialist (PWS), Personal Health Navigator (PHN) and Community Health Worker (CHW).
Type preference may be determined by service need.
Fluency in written and spoken English.
Must be able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
Excellent telephone communication skills.
Must possess a valid motor vehicle driver license in good standing and must be eligible to operate a motor vehicle owned by OHSU or other agency; or demonstrate the ability to access transportation to meet the requirements of the position.
BLS/CPR certification within 6 weeks of hire.
Preferred Qualifications
Intermediate level skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. Understanding of Social Determinants of Health and role of SDH in healthcare. Ability to work independently utilizing critical thinking, problem solving, and time management skills. Skill in developing and maintaining professional relationships quickly. Ability to plan and deliver interactive health education classes and presentations for a variety of groups. Demonstrated understanding of trauma informed and patient centered care or willingness to learn. Ability to interpret and follow policies and procedures. Experience working in a medical service delivery system or health plan (Medicare, Medicaid). Experience providing direct service, community outreach, and/or advocacy. Additional Details Frequent interruptions in an environment of frequent change and fluctuations. May be exposed to body fluids, tissue, possible radiation exposure, and infectious processes. Subject to computer work for several hours, as needed. Requires a valid Oregon driver’s license, vehicle and the ability to drive up to 8 hours.
Standing
On concrete, vinyl, or carpeting up to 4 hours per day and intermittently.
Sitting
Chair or stool continuous up to 8 hours per day and intermittently.
Changing
Position: Intermittently, as needed.
Walking
Intermittently up to 8 hours per day on concrete, vinyl, and carpeting.
Bending
From the waist and knees, frequently throughout the day.
Reaching/Handling: Fine manipulation, repetitive, gross motor requiring full ROM in upper extremeties, including overhead reaching.
Twisting
All ROM required, intermittent periods, throughout the day.
Climbing
Staircase, intermittently throughout the day. Why apply to OHSU? We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.edu
