Legacy Community Health is a premium, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that provides comprehensive care to community members regardless of their ability to pay. Our goal is to treat the entire patient while improving their overall wellness and quality of life, in addition to providing free pregnancy tests, HIV/AIDS screening. At Legacy, we empower patients to lead better lives by promoting healthy behaviors and offering resources such as literacy classes, family planning services, and nutrition and weight management information.

Our roots began in 1981 as the Montrose Clinic, with specialization in HIV education, testing, and treatment. Since then, the agency has expanded to 10 clinics in Houston, one in Baytown, two in Beaumont, and one in Deer Park with extensive services that include: Adult primary care, HIV/AIDS care, pediatrics, OB/GYN and maternity, dental, vision and behavioral health. We also service students within KIPP and YES Prep schools. Legacy is committed to driving healthy change in our communities.

Job Description

The Legacy Patient Educator uses health education, disease self-management, goal-setting, motivational interviewing, and other proven techniques to drive healthy change. As an integrated member of the clinic / care team, the Patient Educator help patients make progress toward their health goals by providing tailored information about health promotion and disease prevention. The Patient Educator also assists patients to access and navigate the continuum of care at Legacy and in the community at large. The Patient Educator may also contribute to the development of new health education programming based on patient, clinic, and community needs. The education provided will consider the multitude of factors that influence health across all lifecycle phases for people of diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Current Patient Education topics include (but are not limited to): Chronic Disease (such as diabetes and hypertension), Infectious Disease (such as HIV and other STDs), and Maternal and Child Health (such as prenatal care, breastfeeding, and family planning). The Lead Patient Educator, after demonstrating added experience and qualifications and under the direction of the Director of Public Health, provides content-area expertise and leadership to other Patient Educators in each of these three areas. *Position may be partially or fully funded by grant(s). 

• Implement health education programming in one-one-one and group settings to increase the knowledge and self-efficacy of patients to prevent illness, manage health conditions, and improve overall wellness. Core topics will be determined based on clinic assignment and may change.
• Conduct brief assessments of patient needs (behavioral, social, and medical), readiness for health behavior change, and progress over time.
• Assist patients to set goals related to their health.
• Guide patients in navigating the system of care in order to achieve health goals.
• Document all patient services in the electronic health record and other data systems as required.
• Manage patient schedules and desktop in the electronic health record system.
• Serve as a member of an inter-disciplinary clinic and care team and promote effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain referral processes, resource lists, and other community networks to effectively link patients to needed health information and services.
• Identify and/or develop and then maintain presentations, handouts, equipment, models, and other teaching tools and instructional materials to effectively convey information to patients and community members.
• Participate in the design and testing of new health education curricula and teaching materials to support patient, clinic, and community needs.
• Participate in the evaluation of health education content, and respond as needed.
• Meet assigned performance metrics including those related to grant/contract requirements, if applicable.
• Participate in clinic, team, and departmental and agency meetings as directed, including travel to different Legacy clinics.
• Attend training workshops and meetings as identified to maintain required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Other duties as assigned. 

In addition to the Essential Functions listed above, the Lead Patient Educator will:

• Provide subject matter expertise to other Patient Educators in the assigned content area (including trend-monitoring, resource-identification, and routine updating of the reference list).
• Coordinate staff development and training in the assigned content area and assure certifications/CEU of assigned team members.
• Identify and lead new initiatives (such as new curriculum design and evaluation) and ensure routine content review and updating.
• Convene team meetings in collaboration with the Director of Public Health and other staff.
• Monitor grant/contract requirements including budgets and reporting, as applicable.
• Participate in the agency’s Quality Improvement Program and other performance improvement efforts as directed.
• Supervise support staff as directed.
• A Lead Patient Educator may be designated for each of the following content areas: Chronic Disease, Infectious Disease, and Maternal and Child Health. Other lead areas may be established to meet business need.

Education & Training Requirements          

• Two (2) years in good standing as a Patient Educator at Legacy or in an equivalent role.
• Holds all certifications required to perform the duties of a Patient Educator in the lead content area or has the ability to obtain certifications within a specified timeframe upon hire.
• Master’s Degree in a relevant field or a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) preferred. 

• Required

1. Experience providing direct education to clients of diverse cultures and backgrounds in one-on-one and/or group settings.
2. Experience in a healthcare setting.
3. Experience with computers and computer programs.
4. Ability to provide community health screenings within 6 months if/as required per site assignment.
5. Ability to demonstrate core competencies of Patient Education within 3 months of hire if needed.
6. Demonstrated ability to plan, implement, and evaluate educational initiatives.
7. Demonstrated ability to manage grants and contracts including budgets and reporting, as applicable.
8. Demonstrated ability to lead others.

• Preferred

1. Experience working in an electronic health record system.
2. Bilingual English/Spanish.
3. Experience working with people living with or at-risk for HIV.
4. Experience working with gender non-binary persons.
5. Experience providing education about pregnancy and/or the post-partum period.
6. Experience working with people who have chronic health conditions.

 Benefits

• 9 Holiday + 1 Floating Holiday
• PTO
• 403b Retirement Plan
• Medical / Vision / Dental (if eligible)