Job Title: Community Health Advocate (CHA)
Organization Name: Steward Health Care System LLC
Region: Greater Fall River (Saint Anne’s Hospital, 795 Middle Street, Fall River)
Organization Description
Steward Health Care System is a community-based accountable care organization and community hospital network with more than 17,000 employees serving more than one million patients annually in more than 150 communities. Each hospital and facility within the Steward family, while part of an extensive network of health care providers, has its own rich history of providing outstanding, compassionate care right in the communities where patients need it most. Hospitals in the system include Carney Hospital in Dorchester, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Merrimack Valley Hospital in Haverhill, Morton Hospital in Taunton, Nashoba Valley Medical Center in Ayer, New England Sinai Hospital in Stoughton, Norwood Hospital, Quincy Medical Center, Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River and St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton. Other Steward Health Care entities include Steward Medical Group, Steward Health Care Network, Steward Home Care, Labouré College, and Por Cristo
Job Description
We are looking to hire a Community Health Advocate (CHA), who will be responsible for Fall River as part of Steward’s CHA team. CHAs are public health workers who are trusted members of the community. Serving as a link between patients and social service agencies in the community, CHAs help community members gain access to available health programs and to navigate the health care system. CHAs provide consumers with information and assistance to access the health care they need, enrolling them in public insurance programs and assisting with scheduling appointments and overcoming barriers to accessing health care.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities for this position will include the following:
• Conduct intake interviews with clients
• Work with hospital team staff to identify difficult-to-reach clients and provide strategies for reaching them
• Make follow-up phone calls and home visits or visits to other appropriate settings (community based-organizations) to explain and enroll individuals in appropriate services such as health insurance
• Schedule appointments for clients and arrange for supportive resources to enable clients to attend appointments
• Assist clients in addressing barriers to care such as transportation, language, family care
• Follow-up with clients by letter, phone call, or home visit on missed appointments or referral
• Establish relationships with clients and provide general support and encouragement for clients
• Provide general support for hospital care teams, acting as the primary point of contact for clients and center of communication for the health care team
Qualifications
Knowledge and Abilities:
• Written and oral fluency in English
• Written and oral fluency in other languages spoken in the assigned geographic region (particularly Spanish and Portuguese)
• Good technical computer skills using Excel and other software programs
• Able to collaborate with team members with data maintenance and report preparation
• Good presentation skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to demonstrate cultural awareness and humility
• Ability to work collaboratively with community-based service providers
• Experience interviewing and collecting confidential data, and maintaining records
• Experience in completing standard forms (experience with MassHealth enrollment a plus)
• Ability and willingness to provide emotional support, encouragement and motivation to engage clients in their care
• Willingness to distinguish clients with severe social, emotional needs and refer them to the appropriate professionals and resources
• Other tasks as assigned by direct supervisor
Minimum Education, Training, and Experience Requirements:
• High school diploma or GED
• Associate Degree strongly preferred
• Six (6) months experience working in a Community Health Worker (CHW) role or in another position with the provision of social services, supportive services, personal care, or related duties
• Certification as a Medical Interpreter preferred
• Past participation in CHW trainings preferred but not required
Compensation
CHA’s compensation is closely tied to his or her success with gaining insurance coverage for our community members. We incentivize our CHAs based on the number of successful applications into public insurance programs as well as on the amount of reimbursement that we receive as a result of successful enrollment in those insurance programs. For a detailed explanation of the compensation structure, please refer to Exhibit A attached to this job description
Training
Our advocates are trained to educate clients about their health care options; help them enroll in coverage or qualify for discounted care; work with consumers to use the coverage they have; and identify trends and systemic problems that create barriers to health care and health coverage. Training programs typically include motivational interviewing, Virtual Gateway, Meditech, quantitative analysis, MOABB, customer service, and other CHW courses.
Contact
Please email a cover letter and resume to:
Paulo L. Gomes, MSHS CHA Supervisor
paulo.gomes@steward.org
For questions regarding this position call 781-708-3735
