Community Health Research Specialist - CHSR (WeCare)

POSITION PURPOSE

The Community Health Research Specialist provides various types of support for research studies as determined by research protocols that require a more independent skill set.

Regenstrief Institute is searching for a Community Health Research Specialist to join The William Tierney Center for Health Services Research. As a Community Health Research Specialist, you will provide assistance to a core program researching novel community-based educational interventions for high-priority public health problems in the State of Indiana, specifically, infant mortality. The research is led by Dr. Debra Litzelman with a key area of focus on discovering effective and sustainable, community-based practices to support and enable mothers and fathers to engage in behaviors that lower the risk of infant mortality and low birth weight infants.

We are looking for a self-motivated Community Health Research Specialist who is attentive to detail, committed to producing excellent and accurate work, and dedicated to the overall outcomes of projects. This role includes extensive in-house training and ongoing supervision to enable the Community Health Research Specialist to confidently offer full services of the WeCare program. The WeCare Program provides one-on-one coaching to study participants, referral to local resources, and home, community, and phone visits to pregnant and post-partum women and their partners. Based on individual risk profiles of enrolled participants, the Community Health Research Specialist will provide patient-centered coaching on smoking cessation, nutrition-food insecurity, mental health concerns, safe sleep for infants, and breastfeeding. The Community Health Research Specialist is provided with mobile office equipment (laptop, a business phone, and hot spot) so they can work in the community and be available to participants (during established study hours). The Community Health Research Specialist will recruit and work with women (including non-English speaking women) from several health systems, clinics, community centers, treatment centers, Moms Helpline, and from other referring sites across the Indianapolis area.

This position is currently set to end in December 2026. It may be possible that the project will be extended, but that is not known at this time.

Candidates who are bi-or multi-lingual and/or candidates with experience working through interpreters are encouraged to apply.

Although this opening is designed for a Community Health Research Specialist candidate, applicants with more or less experience may be considered for alternative roles.

This role is a hybrid role with at least (1) day of onsite activity at Regenstrief Institute, with the other remaining days attending to patients within Marion County. The candidate will ideally be traveling within Marion County 5 days a week.

JOB KNOWLEDGE

Job knowledge focuses on the understanding and skills one needs in order to perform well in this role. It also focuses on the expectation to continually refine and improve the required skills by seeking out internal and external learning opportunities.

Related expectations include:

• Is aware of basic concepts, practices, and procedures in:

  • Office and administration procedures

  • Standard office equipment software applications

  • Arranging schedule to maximize efficiency and meet deadlines

  • Data privacy practices and laws

  • Working with the public (customers, patients, co-professionals)

  • Quantitative and qualitative interviews

  • Maintaining files and important documentation

  • Higher level understanding of study protocol

  • Eye for efficiency in all study aspects

  • Human Subjects Certification required

PERFORMANCE AUTONOMY

The performance autonomy competency focuses on the level of independence one has when performing the work. Time-management skills are also a factor in this competency.

• Successfully completes all training for precise delivery of study subject assessments (including but not limited to: screening for anxiety, depression, food insecurity, housing or utility insecurity, domestic violence, substance use)

• Travels to subject’s homes to perform interviews and complete assessments and provides ongoing research participant support as needed.

• Reviews paper or electronic medical records to determine eligibility of patient for study.

• Works with clinic staff to determine optimal time for approaching subjects.

• Assists Research Coordinator in developing advertising and other recruitment tools.

• Recruits patients marketing the benefits of the study, obtaining informed consent, completing all necessary documentation, and conducting final screening.

• Provides education to patient regarding trial participation.

• Documents subject feedback, critically assesses, and presents potential solutions to study team.

• Travels to subjects’ homes to perform interviews and complete assessments.

• Completes electronic entry of study data in a timely and accurate manner and participates in quality audits.

• Securely maintains study files in an organized manner and assists new staff in doing the same.

• Ensures availability of supplies and equipment to meet the needs of the study

• Participates and provides input to study quality improvement and progress meetings to continuously improve study processes, efficiency, security and compliance.

DECISION MAKING

The decision-making competency focuses on how much one is expected to make decisions when performing the work. It is directly aligned with the performance autonomy competency.

Related responsibilities include:

• Makes day to day decisions within standard guidelines

• Anticipates deadlines or milestones that put the study at risk

• Anticipates needs of study assignments

• Seeks guidance and provides potential solutions when deviations from assigned work tasks, guidelines or processes arise.

• Proactively informs supervisor of deviations from IRB approved study protocol and recommends next actions.

CREATIVITY

The creativity competency focuses on the amount of design, development, and problem-solving creativity expected in the role.

Related responsibilities include:

• Uses creativity to develop efficient subject recruitment process.

• Uses creativity to develop solutions which improve guidelines, processes and standards.

• Significant contributor to troubleshooting problems.

TEAMWORK AND MANAGEMENT

The teamwork and management competency focuses on the interaction and collaboration between team members. It also focuses on the ability to manage people and projects. Inherit in this competency is the ability to communicate orally and in writing and to improve communication skills as time and experience progress.

Related responsibilities include

• Provides cross-coverage support to other research members

• Attends staff meetings and contributes to in-service training as required

• Provides study operation training to other staff as necessary.

• Performs all tasks to company standards with limited direct supervision

• Performs miscellaneous tasks as assigned and actively seeks additional tasks as time permits

• Handles sensitive situations with demonstrated poise, tact, and diplomacy

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Requires at least a high school diploma or GED.

• Requires at least one year of direct research and/or community health work experience.

• Requires the ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.

• Ability to inform study leadership about study progress and suggest solutions to problems.

• Knowledge of basic medical terminology.

• Experience in community-based settings implementing evidence based protocols related to health and health care

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Ability to interact and verbally communicate with a variety of employees, hospital staff, and hospital patients and study leadership.

• Ability to write simple reports and operational correspondence.

• Ability to read and follow general policies, procedures, and study protocols.

• Bilingual or multi-lingual language skills preferred

REASONING ABILITY

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form as well as act as contributor

• Ability to think logically in order to troubleshoot, analyze situations, and make sound decisions.

TECHNICAL/COMPUTER SKILLS

• Proficient computer skills, including working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and

  e-mail systems.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• This position requires the physical ability to work 40 hours per week including the flexibility to work overtime to meet deadlines.

• This position requires the ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time.

• This position requires the manual dexterity to operate a keyboard and pointing device.

• This position requires the ability to travel around campus or to outside meetings as necessary.

• This position requires the ability to perform focused work with close attention to detail.

• This position requires good speaking and listening skills.

• This position requires some physical activity, such as pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, and moving (up to 20 pounds).

• This position requires successful completion of a TB screen.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

• This work takes place in an office environment, hospital environment, subject homes, and various community partner locations including study participants’ homes for meetings, interactions with subjects, and training purposes.

• This work is sometimes fast-paced and deadline-oriented and requires a flexible work schedule.

• Use of business office equipment, machinery, and moving objects is necessary.

• Use of a computer and other office equipment is necessary.

• This position requires working as a team member and also independently.

• This position requires working and interacting with others, both in person and through phone, e-mail, and written correspondence.

BENEFITS OF WORKING HERE

• Work with a variety of diverse professionals in the healthcare industry

• Free parking

• Paid holidays, vacation, and sick time

• Group Life and Voluntary Term Life insurance

• Long-term and Short-term Disability plans

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

• 403b Retirement Plan with gracious employer contributions

• Fitness program

• Pet insurance

• Qualified employer for loan forgiveness

Please note sponsorship and/or relocation are not available for this position.

REGENSTRIEF INSTITUTE REQUIRES ALL EMPLOYEES TO RECEIVE THE INFLUENZA VACCINATION ANNUALLY UNLESS APPROVED FOR EXEMPTION