Non-Clinical Patient Navigator

Summary

Under indirect supervision, provides non-clinical navigation, education, barrier resolution, advocacy, and care coordination for infants who refer on newborn hearing screening and their families across the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) continuum. This position supports a collaborative pediatric hearing-loss initiative involving the University of New Mexico, Presbyterian Ear Institute, and the New Mexico Department of Health EHDI program by helping families understand next steps, access diagnostic and follow-up services, overcome barriers to care, and connect with community and early intervention resources. The Navigator will be trained by the project team in pediatric hearing loss, EHDI guidelines, and family-centered communication, and will assist with outreach and education for parents, providers, and community partners. The primary focus is the Newborn Hearing Screen Program, with opportunities to support families of children of all ages with hearing loss.

Preference will be given to candidates with experience working with Native American communities, Indian Health Service, tribal health systems, or other culturally and linguistically diverse populations in New Mexico.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides non-clinical navigation for infants, children and families across the EHDI and pediatric hearing loss continuum including newborn hearing screening follow-up, diagnostic hearing evaluation, referral coordination, and linkage to recommended next steps.
• Assists families in understanding the significance of a newborn hearing screening "refer" result and the importance of timely follow-up according to EHDI guidelines.
• Works with the UNM and PEI team, the NMDOH EHDI program, birthing facilities, community providers, and other partners to help coordinate follow-up for infants who refer on newborn hearing screening and children with a new diagnosis of hearing loss.
• Helps families identify and address barriers to care, including transportation, lodging, scheduling, insurance/funding issues, communication challenges, and other social determinants of health and acts as an advocate for patients and families.
• Provides families with credible, evidence-based educational resources related to pediatric hearing loss, newborn hearing screening follow-up, EHDI timelines, and available local/state resources, as directed by the clinical and research team.
• Participates in education and outreach activities with community partners, healthcare providers, and parents to increase awareness of the project, available resources, and EHDI best practices.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with community agencies, tribal/Native American-serving organizations, Indian Health Service partners, early intervention providers, and other referral sources, as assigned.
• Documents navigation activities and maintains accurate files, databases, records, reports, and other project-related documentation in accordance with project protocols and institutional requirements.
• Assists the research/nurse coordinator and project team with tracking infants and families through the care pathway and supports data collection processes as appropriate for a non-clinical navigator role through the three-year grant project.
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.