JOB TITLE: Patient Navigator- Health Equity FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt DEPARTMENT: Health Equity SUPERVISED BY: Patient Navigation Supervisor

I. POSITION FUNCTION SUMMARY

Health Equity Patient Navigators (PN) are responsible for providing HICHC patients with direct intervention to address social and health needs. PNs assist patients in achieving wellness and autonomy through assessment, intervention, health education, service facilitation, and advocacy. PNs assist patients in addressing the non-clinical factors that impact health. PNs primarily work in a clinical setting and may participate in work in the community.

PNs are under the direct supervision of the Patient Navigation Supervisor and under the general supervision of the Health Equity Associate Director and Health Equity Director.

II. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This position may have various work assignments within HICHC. This description is intended to be generic in nature, and as such it does not detail all duties and responsibilities of the job assignment. Various duties, responsibilities and accountabilities may be assigned to an incumbent in this position depending on clinic needs, and may include but not be limited to the following:

• Partners with the patient to address the non-clinical barriers that patients face, with a focus on the social factors that negatively affect the patient’s health (i.e., food security).
• Provides care coordination and case management to target the health needs identified by the patient and the care team.
• Provides brief counseling (i.e., health education, motivational interviewing, behavioral activation, nicotine cessation, and problem-solving treatment) to support patients in reaching health goals.
• Documents all service contacts on a timely basis including face-to-face, collateral and networking contacts, correspondence and maintains the case records in accordance with agency and regulatory standards and requirements.
• Facilitates referrals for clinically indicated services outside of the organization (e.g., social services such as housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, mental health specialty care, substance use treatment).
• Assists patients with paperwork and applications (i.e., EBT and housing applications).
• Builds relationships community-based organizations that work on the upstream factors that impact patients, such as housing, benefits, food resources, etc.
• Engages in advocacy through committees and coalition work to change the systems that negatively impact their patients.
• Participates in interdisciplinary staff meetings and interagency meetings and huddles to improve and enhance service continuity.
• Meets regularly with the immediate supervisor for professional development, while reviewing, and processing the provision of services.
• Provides services in the community, either direct services to individuals or health outreaches to groups.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor which are consistent with the position and in compliance with HICHC policies and procedures.

III. POSITION SPECIFICATIONS

Requirements of Position

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 functions.

Education and Experience • High School graduate or GED certificate required. • Two years related experience in health or social services field required.

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Services field strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of local community resources and social services agencies preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Must be sympathetic and compassionate to the client’s issues, while maintaining professional boundaries.
• Must be able to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to prioritize and balance tasks in a high paced environment, with autonomy.
• Problem solving skills—the individual identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully and utilizes management appropriately.
• Displays high level of professionalism, ethical decision-making skills, and emotional stability.
• Technological aptitudes - the individual is adept at utilizing Microsoft Office applications, video teleconferencing platforms, and is able to learn new skills in adjacent electronic documentation systems.
• Able to travel to and from clinic locations and in the community, with a valid driver's license, working vehicle and current insurance.

Language Skills • Ability to read and interpret documents such as patient records, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, etc. • Ability to write at an above average level of competence, including internal reports and memoranda. • Ability to communicate with diverse groups of people to include staff and providers and patients. • Ability to communicate effectively with patients and their families to make their visit a pleasant experience. • Sensitivity to the multicultural nature of the service area population and may be required to communicate in another language. Physical Requirements • Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. • Prolonged periods of standing, bending and reaching. • Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds at times.

Personal Characteristics

Personal characteristics include: a team player, high integrity, multitasker, communication and customer relations skills, regular work attendance, courteous and friendly, able to work well with diverse groups of people, gain and maintain the respect of others, accept HICHC mission and values.

Confidential and Sensitive Information

Because the employee has access to personal and professional data regarding individual employees and their families, personal data regarding individual patients and the families, and/or sensitive company financial data, an essential job result is the maintenance of a high level of confidentiality of the information processed by the employee. Violation of this confidence may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

IV. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS/WORKING CONDITIONS

General Remarks: The work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential tasks and functions.

Environment: The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. There are no known environmental hazards on the premises. Work environment is often stressful. Work is mostly inside, and normal office worker safety precautions and practices are required. Incumbent will be exposed to patients' conditions and some-unpleasant sights, smells and contagious diseases including virus, disease and infection from patients and specimens in working environment. All employees are offered the opportunity to receive vaccinations.

OSHA: This position performs tasks that involve exposure to blood, body fluids, or tissues; normal medical safety precautions and practices are required. Work Hours: 40 hours per week, schedule may vary to accommodate events and program needs. Incumbent will be scheduled based on operational need (rotating shifts, standby, on-call).

Mental Demands: Duties require attention to detail, alertness, problem solving, tolerance to stress and exercising sound judgment. Duties require high tolerance and adequate coping skills for dealing with loss, grief and bereavement. Good stress reduction and management skills are essential.

V. REMARKS

The foregoing position description is not all-inclusive of the duties that may be assigned to the employee. To ensure maximum flexibility and efficiency and to encourage cross training, employees will be assigned additional duties as deemed necessary or desirable by HICHC.