Patient Navigator

Job Description

Patient Navigator II- Pediatrics Patient Navigators

Boston Medical Center (BMC) is more than a hospital. It´s a network of support and care that touches the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in need each year. It is the largest and busiest provider of trauma and emergency services in New England. Emphasizing community-based care, BMC is committed to providing consistently excellent and accessible health services to all—and is the largest safety-net hospital in New England. The hospital is also the primary teaching affiliate of the nationally ranked Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) and a founding partner of Boston HealthNet – an integrated health care delivery systems that includes many community health centers. Join BMC today and help us achieve our Vision 2030 which is a long-term goal to make Boston the healthiest urban population in the world.

Position: Patient Navigator II

Department: Pediatrics

Schedule: Full Time, 40 Hour, Days

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the Program Manager the Patient Navigator II will work in conjunction with Pediatric providers and staff to support families to overcome barriers related to social determinants of health by delivering interventions that foster self-advocacy and self-efficacy. Services include meeting mothers and caregivers to assess barriers to care such as housing, transportation, access to public entitlements, coordinate assistance with community partners, provide assistance and co-navigate cases with navigators, social workers and providers and track caseload status, among others. Responsible for outreach to families, meeting with families, assisting families in interactions with community partners, collecting and managing clinical and research data in a standardized format.

By developing a service plan based on the needs of the family, the Patient Navigator II facilitates access to social services resources, other internal and external resources, monitors the families’ progress, and advocates on the behalf of the family.  As needed, Patient Navigators also collaborate with pediatric researchers. The Patient Navigator is responsible for documentation in the electronic medical record and complying with all data entry, data integrity, and data tracking requirements for BMC and its funding entities.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

Assessments

Provides engagement, education and advocacy services to pediatric families under the supervision and direction of the Program Manager (or other qualified individual). Assesses patient and family to identify barriers to care. Formulates needs assessment and performs goal setting via motivational interviewing. Empowers patients by linking them to a broad range of services, including, but not limited to, services such as social work, care management, financial assistance, financial entitlements, child-care, housing, food, clothing, transportation, food pantries, shelters, and other appropriate community resources.

Addressing Needs

 Collaborates and coordinates with health care team members, including the embedded behavioral health team, the population management team and primary care providers to promote communication and comprehensive care. As needed, assists with scheduling outpatient visits and follow-up. Provides education, counsels, and supports clients.  Uses a variety of culturally, linguistically and educationally appropriate strategies, in a variety of settings. Coordinates with Interpreter Services, as needed. Develops and maintains strong relationships with community resources both internally and externally to BMC. May be called to represents pediatrics within BMC, at its affiliated Community Health Centers, community agencies, service groups, community health fairs and /or medical coverage opportunities as they arise.
 Compliance and Contract reporting Documents patient encounters, resource development efforts, goal setting and other interventions for each patient in the electronic medical record. Complies with departmental, regulatory and contract requirements for documentation recording, and data collection, and submits department statistics and other records and reports within required time frames.

 Research

Works closely with pediatric researchers.

Meets hospital-wide standards in the following areas

Conforms to hospital standards of performance and conduct, including those pertaining to patient rights and privacy Utilizes hospital’s cultural beliefs as the basis for decision making and to support the hospital’s mission and goals.

Other Duties

Remains knowledgeable of and follows appropriate policies, procedures, and work standards, including but not limited to, policy regarding hours of work, absenteeism, and tardiness. Maintains competency in areas of responsibility to ensure quality of care. Maintains strict protocols of all confidential or sensitive information. Attends hospital required and relevant training sessions or activities, as assigned by the Program Manager. Promotes a positive and collaborative work environment supportive of the hospital’s missions and goals. Adapts to changing departmental needs, including but not limited to, offering assistance to other team members, adjusting assignments, and other functions as determined by the Program Manager. Assists in orientation/training of new Patient Navigators staff members and volunteers who may work within this setting. Performs other duties assigned or as necessary.

Complies with the Pediatrics Department Antiracist Practice

Guiding Principles

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are recognized as core institutional values that drive decision-making, resource allocation, and the development of all policies and practices.

To reflect these values, no new venture is undertaken (research project, service expansion or reduction, etc.) without considering the implications for anti-racism, diversity, inclusion, & social justice.

Our commitment to equity and diversity is the shared responsibility of
all members of the Pediatric Department and must be supported and guided by all levels of leadership.

Diverse staff and faculty are recruited, retained, and supported by an environment where all have the opportunity to thrive.

Our commitment to social justice drives and grounds our work and provides our patients with compassionate, high-quality care within an environment that recognizes the important role of cultural humility and where services are provided taking into account the socio-political/historical context that impacts both infant/family clients & employees.

Collaborative practice supports the establishment of internal and external partnerships to help identify and address the emerging needs of our staff, patients and families.

The promotion of critical self-awareness and reflective practice is foundational in our work to address racial inequities, acts of privilege and oppression, biases and assumptions that impact our practice with patients, families and colleagues.

Our Department will commit to support our pediatric staff by Increasing awareness and early recognition of the signs of secondary traumatic stress and the effects of other forms of work-related stress by promoting critical reflective practice.

 EDUCATION:

Associate's degree (or equivalent combination of formal education and experience in community health) plus a minimum of 1 - 2 years in healthcare is required. A Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Biology, Psychology, Education, Social Work or an equivalent degree preferred.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Bilingual in Haitian Creole preferred

Knowledge of community, social, and health resources, particularly family resources.

Empathic understanding of vulnerable patient population and skilled in performing multicultural needs assessments and developing concrete service plans. Expertise in establishing working relationships with patients, their family, professionals, and the community, including the ability to collaborate with a multidisciplinary health care team. Computer competency, inclusive of the ability to access and enter data. Ability to work in a fast paced environment, inclusive of organizational skills, critical thinking, and problem solving abilities. Effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills to facilitate interactions with various members of the health care team, patients, and their families. Demonstrated flexibility with client’s priorities, evolving needs, and goals. Sensitivity to ethnic, cultural, gender, and sexual orientation diversity; values; beliefs; and behaviors. Demonstrated critical thinking and problem solving ability.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans