We are excited to announce the newly created Community Health Worker Certificate Program: Health System Focus. This program is designed to equip individuals with the necessary knowledge and competencies to contribute positively to patient care and the overall health of communities. Our Community Health Worker Training: Health System Focus program provides comprehensive training, empowering participants to make a positive impact on community health and wellness. This is a unique opportunity to enhance your skill set and broaden your horizons, enabling you to contribute effectively to community well-being.
12
HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION
(7.5 hours self-study, 4.5 hours synchronous live)
DATE
This program is held on a rolling basis
TIME
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
GOALS
Equip individuals with the necessary knowledge and competencies to contribute positively to patient care and the overall health of communities.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Pharmacy technicians and individuals with a passion for improving healthcare outcomes, advocating for community well-being, and bridging the gap between clinical pharmacy practice and public health
LOCATION
USC Health Sciences Campus, 1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 106, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003
The Community Health Worker Certificate Training will consist of a three-part structure. Each part is designed to build upon the previous one, providing community health workers with a comprehensive skill set to address the diverse health needs of their communities effectively. The training program emphasizes hands-on experiences, case studies, and practical applications to ensure competency and readiness for serving the community.
Program Highlights
Comprehensive Curriculum
The program offers a carefully curated curriculum that blends theoretical knowledge with hands-on practical experiences. The coursework covers a wide range of topics, including an overview of measuring vital signs such as blood pressure, collecting blood glucose value, and teaching proper use of asthma devices, patient communication, community outreach, health education, health advocacy, and cultural competency. They will also learn to identify social determinants of health and develop strategies to address healthcare disparities within diverse populations.
Experienced Faculty
Participants will be guided by experienced and licensed pharmacists and healthcare professionals who possess in-depth knowledge of their respective fields. They will provide mentorship and guidance to ensure students’ success in both roles.
Practicum Experience
To strengthen the participants’ learning experience, the program includes a practicum component. This allows students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings, working closely with pharmacists and the chance to positively impact patient care and community health outcomes.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of the Community Health Worker Certificate Program, participants will be able to:
- Describe the roles and responsibilities of a Community Health Worker.
- Perform accurate measurements of vital signs and other basic clinical measurements.
- Explain general understanding of common chronic conditions and their overall management strategies by using inclusive and patient-friendly languages.
- Obtain medication and other care-related histories accurately.
- Educate patients with culturally appropriate health information and device uses by showing cultural sensitivity and minimizing language and health literacy barriers.
- Provide support to individual patient by playing a role of mediator and coaching through the health and social services.
- Coordinate health care and social services for the individual patient by navigating health system.
- Assess individual patient’s health and social status with assessment tools through clear communication, active listening, and observations.
- Engage individual patients and communities in health care and social services and care by utilizing motivational interviewing techniques and overcoming communication barriers.
- Adhere to ethical standards, laws, and institutional guidelines while maintaining patient confidentiality.
- Manage time, resources, and priorities effectively within a healthcare setting.
- Utilize relevant tools and technology to enhance patient care and community health outreach.
- Advocate for health and social needs and policy development and changes for individual patient and communities
- Assist individual patient to develop their capacities to their fullest potential.
- Explain process of quality improvement initiatives, evaluation, and research to enhance patient outcomes.
- Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills in building relationships with patients, colleagues, and the community.
- Collaborate with any health care professionals (including pharmacists) to positively impact patient care and community health outcomes.
- Summarize the basic principles of public health and causes and associated factors to the social determinants of health and healthcare disparities.
- Conduct outreach activities necessary to recruit, assess, and follow-up on the individual patient and communities to maintain continued engagement.
Seminar Agenda
Self-Study Part I:
- Introduction to Clinical Pharmacy Tech/CHW
- Vital signs
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Asthma/COPD
- Cholesterol
- Lifestyle Modification
- Obtaining medication history
- CMM check-in service
Live In-Person Training Part 1 (11/28/23)
- Outreach: CMM recruitment and retention, customer service
- Overview of common chronic diseases (DM, HTN, cholesterol, asthma/COPD)
- Obtaining med history
- CMM Check-in
- Vital signs
- Insulin administration
Faculty
Michelle Lee Chu, PharmD, CDE, BCACP
Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Veronica Acosta, LCSW
Wellness Counselor
USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Lisa Goldstone, MS, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP
Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Jessica Abraham, PharmD, APh
Director of Population Health
USC Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Tracey Veal, DrPH, MBA
Department of Public Health Senior Advisor
Vaccine Preventable Disease Control Program
Los Angeles County Public Health Department
Activity Fee: $600 general tuition
For more information about continuing education, contact USC Mann Office of Continuing Professional Development at pharmce@usc.edu.