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Health outreach worker vs community health navigator

The differences between health outreach workers and community health navigators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a health outreach worker and a community health navigator. Additionally, a community health navigator has an average salary of $40,561, which is higher than the $32,129 average annual salary of a health outreach worker.

The top three skills for a health outreach worker include patients, community health and social work. The most important skills for a community health navigator are patients, social work, and mental health.

Health outreach worker vs community health navigator overview

Health Outreach WorkerCommunity Health Navigator
Yearly salary$32,129$40,561
Hourly rate$15.45$19.50
Growth rate12%12%
Number of jobs85,59261,439
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Average age4343
Years of experience44

What does a health outreach worker do?

Community health workers are health care professionals who are responsible for assisting individuals and communities in adopting health behaviors by outreaching health organizations to implement health programs. These health workers are required to provide basic health care services and perform basic diagnostic procedures such as screening of blood pressure, breast cancer, or communicable disease. They must also identify the particular health care needs of individuals in the community and as well as visit their homes to provide support or information. Community health workers must also arrange transportation to clients who have health appointments or referral sites.

What does a community health navigator do?

Community health navigators are health coordinators that connect people to medical providers and community resources. They help patients in enhancing their mental, physical, and social health as well as assist them in developing a definite care plan. Their duties include assisting in prescribing optimal health care to patients, coordinating patient care from care providers, and negotiating the health care system. Also, they connect patients to community resources such as food, clothing, affordable housing, and transportation.

Health outreach worker vs community health navigator salary

Health outreach workers and community health navigators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Health Outreach WorkerCommunity Health Navigator
Average salary$32,129$40,561
Salary rangeBetween $25,000 And $40,000Between $29,000 And $55,000
Highest paying CityEureka, CARichmond, CA
Highest paying stateNew HampshireNevada
Best paying companyPacific Northwest National LaboratoryPioneers Memorial Healthcare District
Best paying industryInsuranceInsurance

Differences between health outreach worker and community health navigator education

There are a few differences between a health outreach worker and a community health navigator in terms of educational background:

Health Outreach WorkerCommunity Health Navigator
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 62%Bachelor's Degree, 60%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Health outreach worker vs community health navigator demographics

Here are the differences between health outreach workers' and community health navigators' demographics:

Health Outreach WorkerCommunity Health Navigator
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 25.3% Female, 74.7%Male, 19.7% Female, 80.3%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 22.1% Asian, 6.7% White, 51.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.5%Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 6.4% Hispanic or Latino, 23.6% Asian, 5.3% White, 52.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%
LGBT Percentage21%21%

Differences between health outreach worker and community health navigator duties and responsibilities

Health outreach worker example responsibilities.

  • Manage large databases, analyze records, perform literature reviews, prepare PowerPoint presentations, and interpret data for publication.
  • Deliver direct services to children with autism by executing individualize plans, completing necessary documentation and communication effectively with team.
  • Maintain privacy and confidentiality of participants and employee information following HIPPA and company guidelines.

Community health navigator example responsibilities.

  • Lead process and counseling groups gear toward healing from both PTSD and substance dependence issues.
  • Utilize EpicCare EMR software to access patients' medical chart as needed according to HIPAA regulations.
  • Exhibit sensitivity and compassion to patients diagnose with breast cancer.
  • Update EMR with most recent information.
  • Coordinate other agencies across the country that assist veterans.
  • Assist to design and implement center-wide mammography tracking process in EMR.
  • Show more

Health outreach worker vs community health navigator skills

Common health outreach worker skills
  • Patients, 10%
  • Community Health, 10%
  • Social Work, 8%
  • Rehabilitation, 6%
  • Crisis Intervention, 5%
  • Social Services, 5%
Common community health navigator skills
  • Patients, 16%
  • Social Work, 10%
  • Mental Health, 7%
  • Community Health, 7%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Care Coordination, 4%

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