Patient Navigator (Emergency) - 40 Hours, Days - U Mass Memorial Health : Job Details

At UMass Memorial Health, everyone is a caregiver regardless of their title or responsibilities. Exceptional patient care, academic excellence and leading-edge research make UMass Memorial the premier health system of Central Massachusetts, and a place where we can help you build the career you deserve. We are more than 20,000 employees, working together as one health system in a relentless pursuit of healing for our patients, community and each other. And everyone, in their own unique way, plays an important part, every day.

Assess patient needs for social services, provide referrals, facilitate patient access to care. Coordinate service delivery, provide medical case management, and advocate for community-based social services for patients and their families. Explain service delivery and teach patients how to navigate some aspects of the health care system themselves.

I. Major Responsibilities:

• Working as an integrated member of the primary medical care team, meet with patients, facilitate access to and coordinate delivery of social services, which may include but is not limited to financial assistance, health insurance, medication, reimbursement, transportation, foster care, educational resources, housing and extended/home care. May assist with development of patient education materials and community resource list.
• Provide education, information, and referral to specialized intervention programs, including but not limited to substance abuse detoxification, asthma outreach, rehabilitation and prevention services. Advocate and work to resolve problems of patient access to these services. Follow up with patients to complete and evaluate social service referrals, working with medical and mental health providers as well as community service agencies to develop alternate plans when indicated.
• Function as a navigator among service providers and community resources, both within the institution and the community, including state and local government as necessary. Maintain ongoing communication/collaboration with clinical team, acting as a resource and referral source.
• May identify patients who are uninsured or need medication coverage. May meet with patients to obtain medical and social service history and counsel patients as necessary regarding insurance eligibility. May enroll patients as necessary.
• Attend periodic UMMHC team meetings to improve program. Attend staff education meetings. Receive training at least annually to maintain current knowledge applicable to program including medical care and resources as they affect the social service needs of patients. Participate in community-based meetings to stay current on new and evolving resources. Develop relationships with community-based health resources.
• Adhere to regulatory policies and procedures relative to the program.

All responsibilities are essential job functions. II. Position Qualifications:

License/Certification/Education: Required: 1. High School diploma or GED.

Preferred: 1. Bachelor's Degree in Social Work, Human Services or Counseling.

Experience/Skills: Required: 1. Two years of social work, human service or related professional experience, including demonstrated ability in psychosocial assessment, knowledge of community resources, crisis intervention skills, and ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team. 2. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both oral and written form.

Preferred: 1. Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Unless certification, licensure or registration is required, an equivalent combination of education and experience which provides proficiency in the areas of responsibility listed in this description may be substituted for the above requirements.

III. Physical Demands and Environmental Conditions:

Work is considered sedentary. Position requires work indoors in a normal office or patient care environment.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

We're striving to make respect a part of everything we do at UMass Memorial Health for our patients, our community and each other. Our six Standards of Respect are: Acknowledge, Listen, Communicate, Be Responsive, Be a Team Player and Be Kind. If you share these Standards of Respect, we hope you will join our team and help us make respect our standard for everyone, every day.

As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, UMass Memorial Health recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences, perspectives and backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, protected veteran status or other status protected by law.

If you are unable to submit an application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at [email protected]. We will make every effort to respond to your request for disability assistance as soon as possible.