Patient Engagement Community Health Worker (CHW)

We are expanding our team to serve the needs of our community in the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri area!  Central Ozarks Medical Center (COMC) is excited to announce an opening for a Patient Engagement Community Health Worker (CHW) at our Richland Clinic!  COMC is looking for a mission-driven team member who is comfortable working with patients with diverse backgrounds. We are seeking a positive, motivated, self-starter for this new position. 

COMC is a Missouri non-profit, federally qualified health center that has served Pulaski, Laclede, Camden and Miller counties for over 40 years.  Our goal is to provide the highest quality, affordable healthcare to the communities we serve. 

COMC offers a robust compensation and benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long and short-term disability, and a 401K retirement plan.  We are located in the scenic Lake Ozark area, a great location for raising a family and enjoying a variety of outdoor recreational activities.

Position Summary:  The Patient Engagement Community Health Worker (CHW) plays a vital role in connecting patients to essential healthcare services at Central Ozarks Medical Center (COMC). This position has a dual focus: engaging patients through proactive outreach (calls, texts, emails) to ensure connection to care and providing general CHW support, including insurance eligibility assistance and resource referrals. The CHW will serve as a bridge between patients and healthcare providers, supporting care continuity, closing care gaps, and addressing social determinants of health that impact patient well-being.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following.  Other duties may be assigned:

Patient Engagement:

• Proactively reach out to COMC patients via phone, text, and email to facilitate connections to care and schedule appointments across all service lines.


• Assist with creating outreach campaigns with outreach software.


• Support efforts to close care gaps by engaging patients in preventive screenings, chronic disease management, and other recommended services.


• Document all patient interactions, noting barriers to care, social needs, and patient preferences.


• Assist newly assigned patients in making initial appointments and establishing care with a provider.

Community Health Worker Support:

• Educate patients on healthcare services, preventive care, and available community resources.


• Assist patients with insurance eligibility, enrollment, and navigation of healthcare coverage options.


• Identify and address social determinants of health impacting patient care, such as transportation, food insecurity, and housing.


• Connect patients to external resources and social services to improve health outcomes.


• Participate in outreach events, health fairs, and community initiatives to promote patient engagement and healthcare access.

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Education, experience, capabilities: High School Diploma or equivalent required. Certification as a Community Health Worker (CHW) or willingness to complete CHW training. Knowledge of healthcare systems, Medicaid/insurance eligibility, and community resources is helpful, but not required.  Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust with diverse patient populations. Exceptional Customer Service Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Language Skills: Bilingual (English/Spanish or other languages) a plus.  Ability to read, analyze, and interpret financial reports.  Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers and regulatory agencies.  Ability to effectively present information to top management.

Mathematical Skills: Ability to work with basic accounting concepts.  Knowledge of fundamental math, adding machines, a calculator, and Microsoft office.

Reasoning Ability: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. 

Other Skills and Abilities:

• DEPENDABILITY AND RELIABILITY: Performs all duties and assignments whether or not supervision is present.


• COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Expresses ideas, information, and instruction in a positive and effective manner.


• TEAMWORK and COOPERATION: Works cooperatively with coworkers and supervisor. Acts as an effective team member with other employees through cooperation.


• JUDGMENT: Makes reasonable and appropriate decisions.


• ADAPTABILITY: Readily and effectively adjusts to changing ideas and activities.


• ROLE MODELING: Acts as a good role model for other employees.


• CREATIVITY: Shows imagination and innovation in solving problems.


• ATTENDANCE: Reliably reports for work as scheduled, willing to work OT when needed.


• SAFETY: Follows all safety rules and works in a safe manner.


• PRODUCTIVITY: Produces an acceptable amount of work, of sufficient quality in an appropriate amount of time.

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. This includes moderate physical effort consisting of occasionally lifting or moving over 35 pounds of weight.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Travel Requirement: To fulfill the responsibility of the position travel to all COMC locations may be required.  Employees must have valid Missouri driver’s license and availability of a motor vehicle. 

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Knowledge of, and compliance with, HIPAA and 340B regulations is required. Confidentiality of patient information is mandatory.

About COMC:

Central Ozarks Medical Center has been providing quality health care in Central Missouri since 1979.  Central Ozarks Medical Center’s staff members are committed to leading the way to healthier communities.  COMC offers a wide range of services based on the needs of the communities we serve. We pride ourselves on offering high quality healthcare regardless of insurance status.

Our Mission

COMC is committed to leading the way to healthier communities by reducing barriers to care, ensuring access for all, and creating a positive working environment of engaged team members with a shared goal.

Our Values

At COMC, we use the following strategically anchored values to guide all our actions:

Selfless Service: We lead by example.              Approachable: We communicate openly

Resilient: We enable and Inspire                        Passionate: We promote community

Responsive: We take action                               Resourceful: We collaborate