Community Health Worker

Founded in 1873, Dignity Health - Mercy Medical Center is a 186-bed, acute care, nonprofit hospital located in Merced, California. Serving over 150,000 patients annually, the hospital offers a full complement of services including a Level II NICU, heart care, the Mercy Cancer Center, and a family birth center. Additionally, Merced Medical Center has been recognized as an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality High Performer by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and is a Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Center.

One Community. One Mission. One California 

As our Community Health Worker, you will serve as a vital link between underserved communities and essential community resources. You will be instrumental in reducing health disparities by helping clients navigate and access critical health, social, educational, and employment services through a home-visiting model.

Every day you will proactively engage with clients through home visits, meticulously assessing their needs and identifying specific Pathways to care and support. You will connect clients to identified community resources, provide guidance on accessing medical, behavioral health, and social services, and offer practical assistance to overcome logistical obstacles.

To be successful in this role, you will possess a profound understanding of the cultural and geographical nuances of underserved communities. A strong ability to problem-solve, coupled with empathy and resilience, is essential for effectively removing barriers to care and empowering clients.

• Is a role model for the Hospital's Patient Satisfaction effort, i.e. demonstrates AIDET principles when interacting with customers, subordinates and colleagues
• Responsible for establishing trusting relationships with patients, and their support team, while providing general support and encouragement
• Based on social needs screening results, provide ongoing follow-up, basic motivational interviewing and goal setting with patients/support team
• Follow-up with patients via phone calls and visits to other settings where patients may need assistance
• Follow up with patients should be on-going from initial identification through closure
• Help patients reach personal goals and attend appointments, as needed

 Required

• A minimum of one (1) year experience in a healthcare setting working with patients, healthcare services, medical groups and payors required
• A minimum of one (1) year experience in community outreach, advocacy work within the healthcare/community
• High School Diploma or GED
• Completion of Community Health Worker certification program at Charles Drew University - within 12 months of hire
• Ability to use Google Workspace
• Able to provide culturally appropriate service
• Ability to build effective relationships with patients, staff, community agencies and community members
• Knowledge of healthcare payors, medical groups and services
• Good written and verbal communication skills

Preferred

• Associate Degree, preferable in a healthcare related field preferred
• CA Driver’s License
• Bilingual Spanish speaker with ability to read and write Spanish