Patient Navigator

Are you looking for a career opportunity that gives back to your community?

Look no further than Beloit Area Community Health Center located in Beloit, WI, a part of Community Health Systems, Inc. (CHS)!

JOB SUMMARY:

The Patient Navigator helps patients get the health care and other resources they need to be as healthy as possible. Patient navigators work with people, their families, and their caregivers to overcome barriers to healthcare screening and diagnosis, healthcare services, and the resources needed to ensure access to healthcare services in the areas of medical, dental, and behavioral health. This position within CHS will focus on ensuring that the patients who receive services are provided comprehensive, integrated care. A dynamic, self-motivated individual is required to help ensure that bridges to care are built between different disciplines and that our patients who need comprehensive care follow through with it. Individuals with a strong presence, a good working knowledge of medical, dental and behavioral healthcare terminologies and who are engaging / interactive are strongly encouraged to apply for this role.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

The Patient Navigator works in collaboration and continuous partnership with patients needing specialized support and their family/caregiver(s), clinic/hospital/specialty providers and staff, and community resources in a team approach to:

• Promote timely access to appropriate care
• Increase utilization of preventative care
• Reduce emergency room utilization and hospital readmissions
• Increase comprehension through culturally and linguistically appropriate education
• Screen for Reduce barriers to treatment determined during SDoH screening
• Create and promote adherence to a care plan, developed in coordination with the patient, care team, and family/caregiver(s)
• Monitor waitlist and resource lists and ensure all schedules are at maximum capacity
• Manage internal and external referrals and assist patient in removing any barriers to completing the referral
• Increase continuity of care by managing relationships with tertiary care providers transitions-in-care, and referrals
• Increase patients' ability for self-management and shared decision-making
• Connect patients to relevant community resources, with the goal of enhancing patient health and well-being, increasing patient satisfaction and reducing health care costs.
• Key performance indicators
• Conduct a minimum of 1,200 in-office/virtual visits per year
• Work with patients to plan and monitor care:
• Assess patient's unmet health and social needs
• Develop a care plan with the patient, family/caregiver(s) and providers (emergency plan, health management plan, summary, and ongoing action plan, as appropriate)
• Monitor adherence to care plans, evaluate effectiveness, monitor patient progress in a timely manner, and facilitate changes as needed
• Create ongoing processes for patient and family/caregiver(s) to determine and request the level of care coordination support they desire at any given point in time
• Facilitate patient access to appropriate specialty providers
• Educate patient and family/caregiver(s) about relevant community resources
• Facilitate and attend meetings between patient, family/caregiver(s), care team, payers and community resources, as needed
• Cultivate and support primary care and specialty provider co-management with timely communication, inquiry, follow-up, and integration of information into the care plan regarding transitions-in-care and referrals
• Assist with identification of "high risk" patients (the chronically ill and those with special health care needs), and add these to the patient registry (or flag in EHR) as appropriate.
• Attend all Patient Navigator training webinars and meetings
• Follows all CHS policies, procedures, regulatory and legal requirements

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Skills/Abilities

• Ability and determination to efficiently carry out Community Health System, Inc. mission statement.
• Training or Certification as a Community Health Worker or willingness to achieve the certification
• 2-4 years' experience in clinical or community resource settings; Care coordination and/or case management experience is desirable
• Evidence of essential communication, education and counseling skills
• Proficiency in communication technologies
• Highly organized with ability to keep accurate notes and record
• Experience with health IT systems and reports
• Local knowledge about and connections to community health care and social welfare resources is desirable
• Ability to speak a relevant second language is preferred
• Demonstrates a positive attitude and respectful, professional customer service
• Proactively acts as patient advocate, responding with empathy and respect to resolve patient and family concerns, and recognizes opportunities for improvement to meeting patient concerns
• Proactively continues to educate self on providing quality care and improving professional skills
• Ability to identify and maintain confidential/HIPPA information

Education

• Social Work or Clinical Associates Degree or Bachelor's level education or equivalent experience preferred. Medical Assisting/Dental Assisting background a plus.

Certification

• Bi-annual BLS Certification required
• Community Health Worker certification (or ability to complete)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to communicable diseases, toxic substances, medicinal preparations and other conditions common to a clinic environment.

Involves standing, walking and sitting for long periods of time; also stooping, bending and stretching for files and supplies.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics 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 the essential functions. While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently exposed to significant work pace/pressure. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job class. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Community Health Systems, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.