Patient Navigators work with various health services providers to assist patients to access appropriate care, establish a medical home, assure pre- and post-visit needs are met and facilitate brief health education encounters related to chronic conditions, medically complicated cases and patients with multiple barriers to clinical care. Navigators provide translation/interpretation services as needed. Duties may vary as each position is customized to meet the specific needs of the host clinic.
Service Activities
• Schedule appointments and navigate patients through health system barriers
• Initiate communication with patients and assist with support in making referrals to address the full spectrum of patient needs
• Participate in mandatory trainings, service projects and team building activities throughout their 10-11 month full time term of service.
• Create informational materials and available resources to have at Sea Mar sites. These include posters, promotional programs, healthy diet and recipes, exercise information, handouts/take-away, as well as resource binders that provide information about available Sea Mar and community resources.
• Create a community resource guide to share with patients and the AmeriCorps-Sea Mar group.
• Review electronic health record charts and patient’s lists to identify patients in need of important health screenings and services. Schedules appropriate appointments according to patient needs.
• Prepare mail outs with appropriate materials and patient identifier information.
• Collaborate with Sea Mar medical clinic staff, quality improvement staff, and other Sea Mar departments as needed to identify patients in need of screenings, to inform care teams about preventative care, and to reach out to these identified patients.
• Work with Sea Mar staff to roll-out additional preventive health screening and recall efforts to patients.
• Participate in an AmeriCorps site health project. This includes community outreach, health interventions, and health events regarding, but not limited to, the following health topics: smoking cessation, diabetes education, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles, stress reduction, managing chronic conditions, and adolescent topics.
• Pro-actively aid in increasing public awareness regarding health coverage enrollment opportunities by planning and conducting outreach activities within the community, participating at both Sea Mar sponsored and non-Sea Mar sponsored events.
• Assist in the development and distribution of informational/promotional materials, and establishes and maintains referral relationships with local organizations, agencies, institutions and businesses as directed by the AmeriCorps Department.
Community Need Addressed
Increasing health disparity among vulnerable and marginalized communities.
Position Outcomes
Increasing accessibility and decreasing barriers for healthcare.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Stipend, Training
Education Benefits
Credential or Certification
CPR Certification
Skills you will gain
Client Based Services Training, Motivational Interviewing, Health Education & Promotion
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Improvise, Provide relevant expertise, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Derive consensus, Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Drive decision making, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment