Health Educator

Company: Community Health Centers
Location: Santa Maria
Posted on: June 7, 2021

Job Description:

SUMMARY

The Health Educator (HE), under the direction of the Health Education Department Coordinator and administrative supervision of the Clinic Manager, is responsible for overall health communication activity, and teaching people about behaviors that promote wellness at Community Health Centers (CHC). The HE is also responsible for the learning experiences that provide individuals served by CHC the opportunity to make appropriate health decisions. The HE will use appropriate strategies and methods to facilitate health promotion and disease prevention and management. The HE must have a thorough understanding of the diverse population served by CHC, and follow the Health Education Code of Ethics.

It is the primary purpose of CHC to provide the highest quality of total care possible to the patient population it serves. Such a level of quality depends ultimately on the staff's desire and ability to work together, individually, and as a team. The employee is expected to be professional, punctual, maintain regular attendance, cooperative, organized, and enthusiastic at all times.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned with or without notice.

• Takes a lead role in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of primary prevention and risk reduction for the organization's patients and the community.
• Assists the Health Education Department Coordinator in the design and implementation of health education policies and procedures and training clinical staff.
• Assesses patient health literacy/ learning ability; adapts program to meet those needs and be able to develop rapport with clients in a short-term counseling environment. Documents health literacy in Electronic Health Record.
• Provides general health education on topics including, but not limited to HIV/AIDS, asthma, back care, cardiac risk, child disease and accident prevention, diabetes, family planning, gastrointestinal disorders, pregnancy testing, weight management, dental care and smoking cessation through help-line.
• Sets up health fairs in locations throughout the community.
• Teaches classes as needed in evenings, some weekends.
• Takes blood pressures and vitals for patients.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served (infants, pediatrics, adolescents, adults or geriatrics).
• Guides patients with chronic diseases through the development of self-management goals. Documents these goals in the appropriate Chronic Care Management template in the Electronic Health Record.
• Organizes the community resources for the designated clinic area into a binder.
• Develops relationships with community partners for the benefit of the patients.
• Demonstrates adherence to and observes all safety policies and procedures, inclusive of infection control rules and regulations.
• Maintains and adheres to confidentiality, and privileged communications (patient, employee, and corporation).
• Participates in patient population management as it relates to clinical services while taking into account cultural diversity and local resources.
• Makes referrals when indicated to RN, RD, CDE, Behavioral Health, or PCP.
• Develops communication skills with all members of the team both internal and external, by first being a patient advocate and using the available resources to facilitate care. Coordinate with the Care Team (PCP. RN, RD, CDE, HE, LCSW, Director of Nursing and/or Medical Director) to ensure appropriate services are arranged for the patient in order for them to meet their goals.
• Understand the role in the quality improvement process, which may include meetings, data collection and charge auditing. Use Evidence Based Practice guidelines to assist with disease management.

REQUIRED

• Demonstrates adherence to and observes all safety policies and procedures, inclusive of infection control rules and regulations.
• Demonstrates the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the age of the patients served (infants, pediatrics, adolescents, adults or geriatrics).
• Demonstrates knowledge of domestic violence, child and dependent abuse protocols.
• Demonstrates culturally sensitivity and competence with patients.
• Maintains and adheres to HIPAA, employee confidentiality, and privileged communications (patient, employee, and corporation).

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

There are no supervisory responsibilities with this job.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

COMPETENCY

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects and researches data; Uses knowledge and experience to complement data; Designs work flows and procedures.

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations; Uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

Visionary Leadership - Displays passion and optimism; Inspires respect and trust; motivates to fulfill the vision; Provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates.

Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions; Displays orientation to profitability; Demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; Aligns work with strategic goals.

Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.

Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals; Demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles; Measures self against standard of excellence; Takes calculated risks to accomplish goals.

Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.

Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.

Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; Applies feedback to improve performance; Monitors own work to ensure quality.

Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.

Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; Manages competing demands; Changes approach or method to best fit the situation; Able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals; Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Initiative - Volunteers readily; Undertakes self-development act1v1t1es; Seeks increased responsibilities; Takes independent actions and calculated risks; Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; Asks for and offers help when needed.

Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity; Meets challenges with resourcefulness; Generates suggestions for improving work; Develops innovative approaches and ideas; Presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

A master's degree in a discipline such as public health education, community health education, school health education, or health promotion. Bachelor's degree may be in another major.

Minimum 5 years of experience as a health educator preferred.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Bilingual English/Spanish, with the ability to read, write and speak, preferred.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) desirable but not required.

Possession of current, valid, unrestricted California Driver's License (Class C) and CPR (BLS-C) card.

Annual health examination, annual TB skin test clearance or bi-annual chest x-ray, if required, MMR immunity, and HBV optional, required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Required: Must be willing to have a flexible work schedule that may include evenings/weekends, and travel as needed.

Keywords: Community Health Centers, Santa Maria , Health Educator, Other , Santa Maria, California