COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT GRANT FUNDED

Under supervision, the Community Health Worker (CHW) will support care coordination services for patients in the emergency department, providing a bridge between patients, medical services, and community-based organizations across Cook County. The CHW will assist patients in navigating the healthcare system, advocating on their behalf, and helping reduce barriers to accessing medical and community resources.

Typical Duties:

• Patient Screenings: Conducts patient screenings by asking questions and recording responses in designated software or EMR systems.
• Health Education: Educates patients on engaging with their health proactively and effectively using healthcare services, such as contacting providers before going to the ER for non-life-threatening issues.
• Support Services: Assists patients with tasks such as scheduling appointments, making referrals to community resources (e.g., housing assistance, mental health services), and providing instructions on accessing services.
• Community Links: Connects patients to programs and community-based organizations (CBOs) for additional support.
• Patient Outreach: Engages in efforts to locate patients, potentially including online searches, outreach materials, and updated demographic information from healthcare providers.
• Escalation Protocols: Utilizes screenings to escalate cases to clinical staff according to established protocols for continuity of care.
• Authorization Verification: Works with payers to validate service authorizations.
• Training & Education: Completes required training and provides patient education on self-management for chronic conditions.
• Documentation: Records patient interactions, assessments, and interventions in the designated system, ensuring data accuracy.
• Transition Support: Retrieves external care documents (e.g., discharge summaries) to facilitate smooth transitions.
• Other Duties: Performs additional assigned tasks as required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: High school diploma or GED.
• Experience: At least one year of experience in health risk screenings, health education, or providing community resource linkages in a healthcare or social service setting.
• Technical Skills: Experience with word processing, Microsoft Office, and appointment scheduling.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Certification: Graduate of a Community Health Worker (CHW) Program.
• Specialized Skills: Experience with assessment tools for hypertension, diabetes, and depression.
• Community Knowledge: Familiarity with Chicago’s West Side communities or residence in the area.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills to work effectively with a diverse patient population and staff.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Outlook for managing appointments, meetings, and emails.
• Strong prioritization skills with the ability to meet deadlines.
• Calm demeanor for handling challenging situations.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Complies with healthcare environment safety requirements, including Personal Protective Equipment, handwashing practices, and adherence to safety protocols.

Benefits Package:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Pension Plan and Deferred Compensation Program
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Leave
• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Application Notes:

• Degrees from outside the U.S. must be validated by an approved credential evaluation service.
• Employment is contingent on satisfactory references, background checks, licensure, certifications, and pre-employment screenings.
• Cook County Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits any political influence in hiring.