Community Health Worker I - Full Time - Mercy STL

Find your calling at Mercy!

A community health worker is a front-line public health worker who is a trusted member of and/or has an unusually close understanding of the community served. This trusting relationship enables the worker to serve as a liaison/link between health/social services and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality and cultural competence of service delivery. Performs duties and responsibilities in a manner consistent with our mission, values, and Mercy Service Standards.

Position Details:

Community Health Worker I

The Community Health Worker (CHW) I serves as a trusted liaison between patients, healthcare providers, and community resources. As a front-line public health professional, the CHW builds meaningful relationships with patients to help them navigate healthcare and social service systems, reduce barriers to care, and improve overall health outcomes.

This position functions within a virtual outpatient setting and collaborates closely with an integrated team of healthcare professionals. Through digital platforms and virtual communication, the Community Health Worker engages patients referred by care teams, focusing on health-related social needs, resource navigation, patient advocacy, and ongoing support. All responsibilities are performed in a manner consistent with Mercy's mission, values, and service standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Patient Advocacy & Navigation
• Serve as a resource and advocate for patients experiencing health-related social needs.
• Guide patients through healthcare and human service systems to improve access to care and support services.
• Educate patients on available healthcare coverage options, including Marketplace plans and financial assistance programs.
• Assist patients in completing applications and gathering required documentation for healthcare, medication assistance, and other support programs.
• Facilitate connections to healthcare services and community-based resources.
• Conduct follow-up outreach to ensure patients successfully access services, attend appointments, and overcome barriers to care.
• Community Resource Coordination
• Complete or verify health-related social needs (HRSN) screenings.
• Connect patients with appropriate community resources through established referral pathways.
• Build and maintain relationships with community organizations and service providers to enhance patient support and resource availability.
• Documentation & Reporting
• Accurately document patient interactions, interventions, and outcomes within the electronic medical record (EMR).
• Maintain required records and tracking systems for patient encounters and program reporting.
• Patient Outreach & Caseload Management
• Manage an assigned caseload of patients as directed by leadership.
• Conduct outreach and follow-up through telephone calls, MyMercy messaging, and other approved communication platforms.
• Provide ongoing support to promote patient engagement and successful resource connection.
• Professional Development
• Participate in Community Health Worker training, continuing education opportunities, and certification programs as available.
• Maintain current knowledge of community resources, healthcare programs, and best practices.
• Additional Duties
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned to support departmental and organizational goals.

Qualifications

• Minimum Requirements
• Education
• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience
• One year of Community Health Worker experience or equivalent experience in a related field.
• Certification
• Completion of Mercy-provided Community Health Worker Training Program within 6-12 months of hire.
• Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building, and collaboration skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Ability to work independently while effectively managing multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated compassion and commitment to serving diverse and underserved populations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and electronic medical record (EMR) documentation.
• Reliable transportation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Skills & Experience
• Additional language proficiency relevant to the communities served.
• Experience working with community-based organizations, healthcare navigation, social services, or patient advocacy program
• Why Mercy?
• From day one, Mercy offers outstanding benefits - including medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, tuition support, and matched retirement plans for team members working 32+ hours per pay period.
• Join a caring, collaborative team where your voice matters. At Mercy, you'll help shape the future of healthcare through innovation, technology, and compassion. As we grow, you'll grow with us.