Job Details

Patient Navigator

Assists patients with navigation through the healthcare system medical services, administrative systems and patient support services. Reduces barriers that keep patients from getting timely treatment by identifying patient needs and directing them to sources of emotional, financial, administrative, or cultural support.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

1. Facilitates and coordinates patient care to ensure that patients receive timely diagnoses and treatment. This includes maintaining communication with patients and the healthcare team; contacting patients who are "at risk" for missing appointments; ensuring that medical records are available at scheduled appointments.
2. Facilitates removing barriers by providing potential financial support sources and helping with paperwork; arranging transportation and/or child/elder care; facilitating linkages to follow-up services.
3. Promotes health and comfort through each stage of patient diagnosis and treatment by activities such as providing health information, screening services and clinical trials; connecting patients to counseling services; directing patients to sources of palliative (pain-easing) or end-of-life (hospice) care.
4. Empowers and encourages patients to navigate the healthcare system on their own by coaching patients to become advocates for their own care; modeling behaviors for patients such as checking on appointments or arranging assistance.
5. Builds awareness of patient navigator services among the healthcare team to assist coordinating patient care and locate "at-risk" patients that need patient navigation services.

Required: High School diploma or GED equivalent. Preferred: Associate degree, preferably in a health-related field. One-year prior work experience in health care.