What are the responsibilities and job description for the Medical Coordinator - Bilingual (Spanish) Unaccompanied Minors position at Lutheran Social Services of NY?
POSITION: Bilingual Medical Coordinator – Unaccompanied Minors Program
REPORTS TO: Lead Medical Coordinator
CLASSIFICATION: Full-Time
STATUS: Non-Exempt (Salaried)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Lutheran Social Services of New York’s (“LSSNY”) Safe Haven Shelter and Transitional Foster Care Program is a 24-hour program that serves unaccompanied children (UACs) in immigration custody who are awaiting release to their sponsors. The Medical Coordinator is responsible for the oversight, coordination and provision of medical and mental health care of the children in the program including initial medical examinations, screening for infectious diseases, dental screening when applicable, and immunizations.
The Medical Coordinator is classified as an essential worker, and as such accepts responsibility for the completion of their critical services to clients, on site, even during times of emergency. These include, but are not limited to, emergencies caused by weather, nationwide pandemics, civil unrest, and domestic threats.
MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Arrange and coordinate all health services, including urgent, emergent and preventative health services for children in care.
- Coordinate the provision of a complete medical examination, including a screening for infectious diseases, as required by ORR, within 48 hours of arrival.
- Maintain complete, confidential medical records for children, ensuring appropriate communication of health needs to external providers and LSSNY’s staff (case managers, clinicians, education team, and child care workers).
- Schedule health care appointments, ensuring qualified interpretation and translation services are in place and coordinate with Child Care Worker teams to ensure transport of minors to providers.
- Serve as a liaison with medical, dental, mental health, and pharmacy providers and document interactions for appropriate reporting to ORR.
- Monitor the provision of medical care for children in UAC program as well as document all follow-up recommendations and services.
- Ensure that all entering female UAC will undergo pregnancy screening and family planning services in accordance with ORR policy.
- Communicate all special diets and medication regimens for UAC to all program staff and foster parents, as applicable.
- Monitor referrals for specialty care, dental care, and mental health services, including ensuring immunization provision according to CDC catch-up schedule.
- Submit all recommended Treatment Authorization Requests to insurance and medical providers in a timely fashion and monitor the system for approval and coordinate any approved follow-up services.
- Obtain and maintain up to date medical, dental and mental health appointments and communications, and prescriptions on all medical records.
- Administer or oversee the self-administration of medication to children.
- Provide billing support to new medical, dental and mental health providers to ensure timely submission of billing and receipt of payment.
- Attend Interdisciplinary Team Meetings for UAC program.
- Ensure compliance with local, state, and Federal rules and regulations, including but not limited to HIPAA.
- Other duties as required by direct supervisor or needs of the program/agency.
SUPERVISES: Volunteers
- Licensed practical or vocational nurse (LVN/LPN) or higher health-related qualification (e.g., licensed registered nurse (RN) with a bachelor's degree) OR
- Bachelor's degree in nursing or other relevant medical or health field
EXPERIENCE:
- Minimum of 1 year of employment in public health or a healthcare setting with demonstrated experience in care coordination, health administration, or direct clinical care
- Experience in a pediatric medical setting (preferred).
- Strong communication and writing skills
- Ability to work collaboratively with consumers and co-workers
- Knowledgeable in working with immigrants or youth and children at-risk
- Superior organizational skills and experience working with Microsoft Office Applications
- Ability to work independently in a fast-paced changing environment with challenges requiring creative and innovative thinking/problem solving skills
- Demonstrates ability to enforce policies
- Ability to work flexible hours as needed
- Bilingual (Spanish) a plus
This position’s description contains the major responsibilities required to perform this job. These responsibilities may change at any time to meet the needs of our clients, residents or agency.
