Heart & Hustle: A Day in the Life of a Community Health Worker

Navigating the healthcare space is complicated, and positive outcomes are a team effort. One of the most important players on that team is the community health worker—someone who knows how to meet patients where they are and help them navigate every step of their care.

Victoria Keir is that player.

She is the quiet force behind better outcomes for those she serves. Victoria builds trust with patients, relays crucial insights to medical teams, and advocates for real-life solutions that don’t always show up in charts.

Meeting Patient Where They Are—Literally

There’s no such thing as a “typical” day in Victoria’s schedule. She may start out in a clinic, calming a patient’s nerves before a high-stakes appointment. Or maybe she’ll visit a patient at home to uncover what’s really behind those missed medications and cancelled follow-ups. It’s possible that she could call the food bank to address a patient’s nutritional needs, or help someone finish an application for low-cost medication.

Wherever there’s a gap, Victoria fills it.

“I once had a patient who told their doctor they exercised daily,” she recalls, “but in truth, they didn’t feel safe leaving their home. That’s the kind of details that changes everything, and the important information I’m able to bring back to the care team.”

Community Health Workers Get More Time, More Trust

Victoria’s ability to spend real time with her patients—sometimes two or three hours—which is how she’s able to build the kind of trust that elicits helpful information. “You’d be amazed at what people hold back,” she says. “We give them space to be real.”

In one case, an 81-year-old woman was on the verge of canceling heart surgery because she didn’t have anyone to stay with her after, which insurance required in order to authorize the procedure.

Victoria didn’t let it go. She called, emailed, and escalated until the hospital agreed to keep the patient overnight. That surgery paved the way for a cancer diagnosis—and the treatment that saved her life.

“If I hadn’t kept pushing, she might never have had the chance,” Victoria says.

Many of the people she helps don’t quite know how to ask for what they needs, or they’re scared to speak up. Part of her job is showing them how.

“We teach self-advocacy,” she explained. “Sometimes we even model it for them until they’re ready. Confidence builds over time, and I love watching my patients start to believe in themselves.”

No Medical Degree Required

Here’s the thing about being a community health worker: You don’t need a special license to help nurture confidence in your patients.

All you need is curiosity. Grit. And a whole lot of empathy.

“If you’re the ones people go to during a crisis, if you listen without judgement, if you don’t stop until you find a solution, you may already be doing the work of a community health worker,” Victoria said. “You just haven’t made it official quite yet.”

A high school diploma is the baseline. After that, it comes down to training, connection, and choosing a career where your emotional intelligence becomes your superpower.

The Bottom Line

Community health workers don’t just connect patients to services. They connect them to hope. Every moment is a chance to help someone feel seen, heard, and supported.

“There’s nothing better than watching someone go from powerless to empowered,” Victoria explained. “Even if it’s just for a moment, it changes everything.”