Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Patient Navigation and Care Coordination
- Guide patients and families through the cancer care continuum.
- Coordinate diagnostic testing, consultations, procedures, treatments, and follow-up appointments.
- Ensure timely scheduling of oncology services and reduce delays in care.
- Track patients throughout treatment to ensure adherence to recommended care plans.
- Facilitate communication between patients, providers, specialists, and ancillary departments.
- Monitor referrals and follow up on missed appointments or gaps in care.
Patient Education and Support
- Enhanced care coordination among multidisciplinary teams.
Increased Revenue Capture
- Reduction in missed appointments and treatment cancellations.
- Improved retention of oncology patients within the health system.
- Increased completion of diagnostic and treatment services.
- Enhanced coordination of referrals and ancillary services.
Quality and Accreditation Support
- Support compliance with oncology quality standards and accreditation requirements.
- Assist with data collection, reporting, and performance improvement initiatives.
- Improve documentation and tracking of patient outcomes.
- Support multidisciplinary cancer conferences and care planning activities.
Operational Efficiency
- Decrease administrative burden on physicians, nurses, and clinic staff.
- Improve communication among providers and departments.
- Streamline patient scheduling and care transitions.
- Provide a single point of contact for oncology patients and families.
Financial Impact
Cancer services represent a significant service line with opportunities for growth. Delays in care, patient leakage to competing organizations, and missed treatment opportunities negatively impact both patient outcomes and organizational revenue. A Nurse Cancer Navigator helps retain patients within the health system, improves appointment adherence, facilitates timely treatment, and maximizes utilization of oncology-related services.
The financial benefits generated through improved patient retention, increased treatment completion rates, reduced no-show rates, and enhanced coordination of services are expected to offset the cost of the position while improving overall program performance.
Strategic Alignment
The Nurse Cancer Navigator position aligns with the organization's strategic goals of:
- Improving patient access to care.
- Enhancing quality and patient experience.
- Expanding oncology services.
- Reducing health disparities.
- Supporting population health initiatives.
- Strengthening multidisciplinary care coordination.
- Advancing health equity and patient-centered care.
Qualifications
Education
- Associate Degree in Nursing required.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.
Licensure and Certification
- Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Illinois.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
- Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN) certification preferred or obtained within two years of hire.
Experience
- Minimum three (3) years of nursing experience required.
- Minimum two (2) years of oncology nursing experience preferred.
- Experience in care coordination, case management, or patient navigation preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of oncology disease processes, treatment modalities, and supportive care services.
- Strong patient advocacy and communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
- Knowledge of community resources and support services.
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills.
- Proficiency in electronic medical record systems.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods.
- Ability to communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
- Ability to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.
- Ability to use computers and office equipment for prolonged periods.