Shana Madden works as a Community Health Worker through Greenville Health Systems at the Extension Office. She interviewed Barron Hicklin and provided insights into her daily responsibilities, the training required for her position, and career paths in community health. Her typical day involves tasks like logging hours, responding to emails, calling patients, and visiting patients. She works 40 hours per week during regular business hours but her job may require after hours work for programs and trainings.

1. Informational
Interview with Shana
Madden
Barron Hicklin

2. Shana M. Madden
Shana works as a Community Health Worker through Greenville
Health Systems at the Extension Office. I asked her fifteen
questions that gave me a better idea about what she does on a
daily basis and what types of training are required to become a
Community Health Worker.
Date of interview: May 20th 2016

3. What personal qualities or
abilities are important to being
successful?
First, being caring and open minded with all patients in Public
Health. Remembering that others live differently than you and I!
Organization is important with patient information that is
sensitive materials. Also, in order to be a Supervisor and create
schedules and turn in time it is important to be organized and on
task! Multi tasking has been my best quality since I started since
this is a new program and things are always changing. I work on
Extension programming then switch hats and see patients! Every
day it is different!

4. How did you get this position?
What are common career paths?
Dr. Dye and Jenny, a Nurse Practitioner I worked under in the
Sullivan Center during my internship both reach out and
suggested that I apply that they felt I was a great fit for the
position. Oh how I am thankful for them! Other students in my
field took positions in primary care offices or went on to further
pursue their education.

5. What types of training do
companies offer persons
entering this field?
There is always the opportunity to go back and further your
education. Obviously, they offered me my CHW training. I have
had training specific to our team as well such as canning, etc. I
think that I will get my Certificate of Behavioral Analysis at some
point. That would be beneficial with this population. Also, would
love to achieve my Masters. The benefit for working at Clemson
is the opportunity to take some classes for free as an employee!

6. What areas of knowledge are most
important for advancement in this
field? What degrees? Certification?
Population Health/Public Health. Also, the Community Health Worker
Certification and Mental Health First Aid certifications have been very
helpful with this population. I do not have mine but would recommend
the CHES (Certified Health Educator Specialist) test if you have time to
take it. I wish I had taken mine and may still do it! The skills you
learned in pre internship can also be used in a position such as this
one! I have used all my skills I learned while working on the Mobile
Health Clinic. (Blood pressure, finger pricks, pulse, temp, etc.)

7. If you were starting out again,
would you do anything
differently?
I would have searched for a job directly in my field right away. I
had a job in a great DME provider’s office but I could have missed
out on opportunities right away in health education. But
everything works out for a reason!

8. What do you do on a typical day
in this position?
They are all different! Some days are office days that consist of
logging my Cumis time, mileage, responding to
emails/voicemails, calling/charting patients, staff meetings, etc.
Other days I am out visiting patients or helping out at the Mobile
Health Clinic. I also participate in monthly meetings with GHS and
also work with the Neighborhood Health Partners Team in their
office some days as well.

9. How many hours do you typically
work each week? Do you often
work in the evenings or weekends?
My hours are M-F 8-430. This job can always require after hours for
trainings, programs, and even helping patients.

10. What is a typical starting salary?
Average salary? Other benefits?
I think an average salary is around 32,000. Benefits for working at
Clemson or any other state job is the health insurance and the
retirement.

11. What are the geographic
restrictions in this field? How much
are you required to travel?
There are areas they have what we consider food deserts where good
grocery stores aren’t in reach but the 5 medical neighborhoods they I
serve are all within Greenville Co.

12. What is unique about your
organization?
Extension is very special! It brings the education to the people. Its
amazing how many people do not know what Extension is or
what it even does!

13. Is there a demand for people in
this occupation?
We are always short for agents in Extension. In the health field in
general there is always a demand because unfortunately we will
always deal with sick and disease. There will always also be room
for education.

14. What is the "corporate culture"
here, i.e. is it formal, informal, do
people work autonomously, does
everyone come early, stay late?
I LOVE being apart of extension. We all work the same hours unless we
go out for programs and trainings that are specific to us. Some people
do have to work late if working on a program that is at night or fitting
time to fight a patients needs.

15. Is your organization expanding,
shrinking or maintaining? Who are
the competitors in this field?
In the business world such as GHS there will always be competitors but
with Extension we all try to work with other partners in the state to
achieve the same goal, help the people!

16. What are the professional
journals in this field that I
should read?
I just keep up with current health and wellness topics and chronic
conditions that may be on the rise.

17. What special advice would you
give a person entering in this
field?
If someone wanted to work as a Health Extension Agent I would
suggest a Bachelors in Health Education/Promotions or
Public/Population Health. Also, the CHES certification, the CHW
certification if given, and the Mental Health First Aid would be
beneficial. All of those are certifications I have obtained and used
since taking the position!