Community Health Worker - Akron, Ohio

As a Community Health Worker at Waymark, your primary responsibilities revolve around patient interaction and support. You'll be assessing patient needs, helping them connect with healthcare and social resources, and motivating them to achieve their health goals. You'll also collaborate with other healthcare professionals, create resource directories, and participate actively in community outreach initiatives. This means you'll be instrumental in improving health outcomes for low-income patients within Akron, Ohio.

To become a Community Health Worker at Waymark, you should ideally have strong interpersonal communication skills, cultural competency, and the ability to work independently. While a Community Health Worker certification is preferred, experience in customer-service roles and knowledge of the Greater Cleveland Medicaid populations will be highly valuable. Having a friendly and empathetic personality is crucial, as you'll be engaging with diverse community members to address their needs.

Upon joining Waymark as a Community Health Worker, you'll participate in a paid training program lasting 2-3 weeks. This program is designed to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively serve the community. It covers essential topics such as conducting needs assessments, navigating technology for documentation, and understanding community resources. This training ensures that you are fully prepared to take on the responsibilities of improving health outcomes for our patients.

Waymark is committed to supporting its Community Health Workers through comprehensive benefits and ongoing professional development. This includes competitive hourly rates, stock options, work-from-home stipends, medical coverage, and a retirement savings plan. Additionally, you have access to a professional development stipend, ensuring you can continuously advance your skills and knowledge while making a significant impact in the community.

A typical day for a Community Health Worker at Waymark varies greatly. You might start your morning with team huddles, followed by meetings with patients in various settings, such as their homes or healthcare facilities. Your role may include conducting needs assessments, helping patients with social issues, and documenting your interactions using technology. Flexibility and adaptability are key, as you'll navigate between in-person meetings, virtual patient outreach, and collaboration with team members throughout the day.

When answering this question, focus on a specific example where you used your knowledge of community resources to assist a patient. Describe the situation, the actions you took, and the positive outcome. Highlight your ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with other healthcare providers, illustrating your dedication to patient advocacy.

Discuss your organizational strategies and time management skills. Explain how you assess urgency and patient needs, possibly by using a task list or software to keep track of appointments and important communications. Highlight your ability to remain calm and effective while handling multiple responsibilities.

Emphasize your interpersonal skills and cultural competency. Discuss the importance of active listening, empathy, and tailoring your communication style to meet the needs of different individuals. Sharing a personal experience of how you built trust with a community member can further strengthen your response.

This is a critical skill in the healthcare field. Talk about the importance of patience, understanding, and employing motivational interviewing techniques to encourage patients to share their concerns. Illustrate how you would validate their feelings while gradually guiding them toward accepting assistance.

Outline your process for assessing the situation, prioritizing the patient's immediate needs, and coordinating with community resources effectively. Demonstrate your knowledge of local services while showcasing your ability to act promptly and compassionately in crisis situations.

Highlight your familiarity with documentation practices, possibly referring to specific software tools. Explain how accurate record-keeping is crucial in coordinating care and managing patient follow-ups, and demonstrate your attention to detail and commitment to maintaining patient confidentiality.

Discuss your collaborative approach when interacting with professionals from different specialties. Share your experiences in leveraging the strengths of team members, communicating effectively with them, and contributing positively toward common goals, which in this case would be the health of your patients.

Express your views on the significance of empathy, dedication, and the ability to connect with diverse populations. You might share how these qualities have impacted your previous work experiences and influenced your approach to community health advocacy.

Discuss the importance of cultural humility and the need to educate yourself continuously about the various backgrounds of your patients. Share past experiences where you adapted your practices to respect and accommodate cultural differences, ensuring effective communication and care.

Demonstrate your alignment with Waymark's mission by discussing your passion for improving healthcare access and serving underserved communities. Explain how your values resonate with Waymark’s and articulate what excites you about being part of their innovative team.