Case Coordinator InternAt — Chinatown Service Center

The Case Coordination Intern for the Enhanced Care Management (ECM) program at a Los Angeles County FQHC supports care teams in helping Medi-Cal patients with complex medical, behavioral, and social needs access essential services. Under supervision, the intern assists with patient outreach, intake, and care plan coordination, while documenting interactions and updates in the electronic health record. This role provides hands-on experience in whole-person, community-based care, including referrals to medical, behavioral health, housing, and social services.

Interns will gain practical knowledge of CalAIM ECM requirements, Medi-Cal systems, and local community resources, while developing skills in communication, organization, and culturally competent patient engagement. The position offers opportunities to participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, shadow case managers, and learn strategies for supporting underserved populations, preparing students for future careers in social work, public health, or healthcare coordination.

Tasks:

- Support patient outreach, intake, and engagement for eligible Medi-Cal members.
- Assist with care plan development and tracking under supervision.
- Help refer patients to medical, behavioral health, housing, and social services.
- Maintain accurate documentation in the electronic health record (EHR).
- Shadow case managers during appointments, home visits, and team meetings.
- Participate in team meetings and case conferences to learn care coordination processes.
- Review training materials and sample cases to understand ECM program requirements.
- Apply culturally competent, trauma-informed approaches in patient interactions.

Training:

Students in this placement will receive a combination of structured and experiential training to achieve the learning outcomes. Training begins with a general employer orientation, introducing organizational policies, the FQHC environment, and ECM program procedures. Interns will participate in weekly one-on-one mentor meetings with a case manager to review progress, discuss challenges, and receive guidance on care coordination tasks. Additional training includes job shadowing of experienced case coordinators during patient outreach, care plan development, and community referrals, as well as workshops or skills sessions on documentation in the electronic health record, motivational interviewing, and culturally competent communication. Interns will also receive training literature and contextual briefings to understand ECM program requirements, Medi-Cal systems, and local social service networks, with opportunities to review sample cases and practice applying skills under supervision.

Learning Outcome:

1. Understand the ECM Model: Gain a clear understanding of California’s CalAIM Enhanced Care Management (ECM) program and how care coordination supports high-need Medi-Cal members.
2.Develop Case Management Skills: Learn to assist in creating, tracking, and updating individualized care plans and documenting progress in an electronic health record (EHR).
3.Enhance Communication & Collaboration: Strengthen skills in engaging with patients, interdisciplinary care teams, and community partners to address medical and social needs.
4. Apply Cultural Competence: Learn to provide patient-centered, trauma-informed support to individuals from diverse backgrounds in Los Angeles County.
5. Navigate Community Resources: Build knowledge of local health, housing, and social service systems to connect patients with appropriate community-based support.