Job Description

Align yourself with an organization with a reputation for excellence! Cedars-Sinai's Community Connect Program leads our approach to address the non–medical factors that impact patient health, ensuring all patients receive comprehensive support for a healthier life. It supports individual and community health through assessments and interventions that help people get connected to vital resources. With dedicated staffing, strong community partnerships and innovative technology, the program serves patients across the health system. We offer an outstanding benefits package that includes healthcare, a 403(B), and a generous time-off policy. Join us! Discover why U.S. News & World Report has named us one of America’s Best Hospitals.

Tell me about this role:

The Community Health Worker (CHW) supports patients and their social and clinical needs by helping them navigate and access community resources, social services, and medical systems. CHWs work in collaboration with clinical care teams, which consists of Case Managers, Social Workers, Physicians and Nurses, from the Emergency Department (ED), inpatient and outpatient environments, and the medical network to identify and assist patients with their health related social needs and provide support with removing barriers both within the hospital and post discharge. The CHW functions as a liaison between medical staff, the patient, and the community by facilitating access to healthcare and social services through assessment, care coordination, and other case management activities, thus reducing the stress of the patient as well as the medical team:

• Engages, builds rapport, establishes a trusting relationship and continuous candid communication with patients/participants and patient/participant support systems.
• Assesses social drivers of health needs in patients/participants and documents appropriately.
• Determines social drivers of health concerns/ gaps, establishes goals of care, and develops a treatment plan to address moderate social and health disparities.
• Assists patients/participants with problem-solving barriers to health stabilization by identifying, locating, connecting to and navigating needed community and medical system services including visiting patients at their homes, accompanying patients to appointments and assisting patients with completing applications to access needed services.
• Conducts proactive follow up with patients/participants and families to ensure they receive the recommended care and services and reduce barriers in accessing resources. Engages in crisis intervention when determined appropriate.
• Works collaboratively and professionally with other fields of the clinical health care team including physicians, nurses, , social workers, case managers, and other patient navigators.
• Establishes professional relationships and partners with community collaborators, community resources, health plans and providers by participating in local community engagement activities with local agencies (e.g. community-based organizations, social service agencies, faith-based organizations, community centers, government agencies, etc.) to promote support for continued involvement and cooperation in community health projects.
• Identifies gaps in community resources and supports the implementation of new solutions or services to close identified gaps.
• Provides outreach and engagement at community health and resource fairs and events to promote the department programs, services, and provide resource navigation to community members.
• Work independently to fulfill general requests. Works with internal team to solve more complex issues.
• Provides overall programmatic support, including data collection and analysis, program evaluation, and other administrative duties as assigned.
• Integrates within multidisciplinary hospital clinical teams by attending rounds, weekly huddles, case consultations, etc., to effectively identify and address patient needs.
• Promotes patient satisfaction by ensuring the wellbeing of patients by attempting to fulfill their needs, while reducing the stress on the patient. May interact with their families and care givers to diffuse anxiety and fear through provision of information, education, and support.
• Assist patients and families navigate the discharge process including access to community programs, services, and health insurance information. Advocate through engagement, outreach and providing linkage to resources such as primary care and/or psychiatric clinics.

****Qualifications****

Requirements:

High school diploma or GED required.

A minimum of 1 year of experience in community-level health education or a related field required.

A minimum of 2 years of experience working with patients with high social needs including low SES, patients experiencing homelessness, mental illness, substance use disorders, and other underrepresented groups preferred.

Community Health Worker certification preferred.

Skills Sought:

Ability to speak and write in a language other than English (e.g., Spanish, Russian, Farsi, Korean, American Sign Language, etc.) is strongly preferred.

Ability to analyze problems, formulate suggestions and solutions, and actively problem solve with patients or in collaboration with other internal and external team members.

Skill in recognizing and effectively responding to emergency or high priority situations that need to be elevated to supervisor and/or clinical advisors.

Good interpersonal skills with ability to connect with a diverse patient population, especially those who are highly vulnerable and/or non-English speaking communities.