A career at Community Health Centers offers a unique opportunity to join a team that makes a real impact in our community every day, by improving individuals' health while enhancing their quality of life.

Top Reasons to Work at Community Health Centers

• No weekends for the majority of our centers, 10 Paid Holidays and early Fridays
• A great benefits package that includes healthcare coverage, paid time off, paid holidays, retirement plan, and more.
• Competitive compensation with advancement opportunities and tuition / training reimbursement.
• Awarded "Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation" for five consecutive years.
• Awarded "Top 100 Workplaces for Growing Families" by Orlando Sentinel.
• Modernized and attractive health centers, that patients love.

Job Summary:

The Patient Educator works with patients referred for assistance by educating and coordinating services for chronic disease self-management. The purpose of the Patient Educator is to improve health outcomes through coordinating care, educating patients, building trust between patients and medical practitioners, and enhancing communication and the continuity of care. The Patient Educator will consult with other health care team members to coordinate services of patient education, preventive care, and disease management.

Primary Responsibilities and Specific Duties:

• Acts as advocate for an individual's care needs by identifying and communicating opportunities for care interventions, addressing deficits and gaps in care as indicated.
• Coordinates the care services for patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and asthma in accordance with established clinic policies and procedures, objectives, quality improvement activities, safety, environmental and infection control standards.
• Implements targeted strategies to improve health, functional or quality of life outcomes, such as disease management or pharmacy management, and patient teaching plans.
• Monitors hospitalizations, emergency or urgent visits, institutional facility admissions and re-admissions to identify issues and implement follow up for improved outcomes.
• Routinely monitors patient's status, needs and progress; if progress is static or regressive, assist in identifying a reason and proactively encourage appropriate adjustments to their plan of care with the provider and /or services to promote better outcomes.
• Coordinates and facilitates patient education groups
• Participates in patient care coordination, pre-visit planning, huddles, one-on-one communication, email, patient contact, and documentation of any services accessed and/or health care related concerns/needs that have arisen since last visit.
• Participates in team meetings to communicate and address patient care and operational requirements.
• Discusses self-management goals with patients and assists them in selecting appropriate goals and creating an action plan to achieve them.
• Monitors and documents goals selected and follows up with patients to determine if goals are achievable, in addition to providing assistance to patients when needed in how to achieve their goals.
• Reviews charts prior to scheduled visits to assess patient needs and document this information on the flow sheets to assist the clinical support staff and providers in easily identifying procedures or tests that are due. Reviews and enter data into the computer.
• Tracks and provides follow up on client care visits at CHC and treatment received at other medical centers, including but not limited to stat and urgent orders and referrals; medical care services such as preventive care screenings and assessments and abnormal laboratory results for specific tests.
• Informs supervisor of any problems that may affect quality and the standards of patient services.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; completion of an accredited Licensed Practical Nursing program or RN program; Active Florida LPN or RN license.

Experience:

• Minimum of two (2) years' experience as a Licensed LPN or RN in Health Care or Managed Care is preferred.
• Practical experience in a patient educator role or evidence of training in patient education
• Proven ability to function effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary team and proven experience in verbal and written communications and case management service

Special Skills:

• Knowledge of health implication of chronic diseases and risks.
• Excellent skills in oral and written communications skills.
• High level of initiative and leadership.
• Good advocacy skills.
• Must have proven ability in handling multiple projects and setting priorities, as well as effective time management.

Other Requirements:

• Bilingual: English/Spanish helpful.
• Able to work flexible hours and other CHC locations as needed.