Patient Navigator

Department: MED-Obstetrics & Gynecology
Salary/Grade: EXS/5

The target hiring range for this position will be between $52,000 - $62,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Job Summary:

This Patient Navigator position will support an antenatal patient navigation research program, Partnering with Antenatal Navigators to Transform Health in Pregnancy (PATH). The study seeks to improve maternal health outcomes among low-income pregnant individuals by implementing a barrier focused, long-termed patient-centered intervention that offers support for a defined set of health services. In this NIH-funded study, pregnant individuals will be randomized to either receive intensive patient navigation throughout pregnancy through the early postpartum period, versus receive usual antenatal care.

The patient navigators will be responsible for directing participants through the antenatal period and performing all navigation activities, including coordination of support services with attention to each individual's relevant social determinants of health. They will identify other social/structural needs or barriers a participant may encounter during the study and offer appropriate referrals as described. The navigator will also serve as a bridge to the clinical providers, offer limited health education, and serve as a source of psychosocial support. The navigator will be extensively trained in community resources, prenatal needs, the study protocol, barriers to care, and other issues relevant to the study.

The role requires a culturally competent individual with excellent communication, organizational, and multitasking skills. The patient navigator should possess strong relationship building and problem-solving skills, an interest in health education, and a passion for patient advocacy. The position requires an individual that can engage with patients in a caring, compassionate, and empathetic manner and can easily adapt to a changing environment. The position also requires individuals to be comfortable engaging with a variety of health care professionals in a busy clinical environment.

Please note: Supervisor provides objectives, deadlines and specific instructions only for new, difficult, and/or unusual work. Work is reviewed upon completion and only occasionally to verify technical accuracy and compliance with practice, policy, and procedures. EE informs supervisor of on-going progress and/or potentially controversial matters.

Specific Responsibilities:

Technical

• Leads execution & control of a biomedical &/or social science project or research study.
  • Provides patient navigation services by assisting, counseling and educating patients to become more effective and knowledgeable users of healthcare services.
  • Meets patient, explains study details, and provides contact information.
  • Provides navigation and care coordination to patients enrolled in the PATH study.
  • Performs needs assessments throughout navigation course to identify health and support services for patients and opportunity for provisions of resources as needed. Perform motivational interviewing for self-care and recommended health behaviors.
  • Develops individualized pregnancy care plans, schedule prenatal appointments, and provide appointment reminders.
  • Offer social, emotional and logistical support.
  • Performs health education on issues such as contraception and breastfeeding.
  • Supports patient and clinical staff with administrative tasks such as maternity leave paperwork and insurance needs.
  • Accurately documents patient information, goals/plans, and patient navigation services in all database systems including Electronic Medical Records.
• Coordinates processing & analysis of data, conduct of experimental tests & procedures
  • Coordinates with clinicians and health care team regarding patient enrollment in PATH and antenatal care.
  • Responsible for record retention and maintaining accurate information in an organized and structured format.
• Develops new &/or revised research methodologies.
  • Contributes to the development of a patient navigation model in women's health that promotes best practices to manage work flow and adhere to study procedures. Maintains a patient navigation manual that provides documentation on how to perform the various roles and responsibilities of the position.
• Ensures completion of study activities per protocol including recruitment.
• Obtains informed consent.
• Interviews & obtains medical & social histories.

Administration

• Oversees & manages collection, maintenance, analysis & evaluation of data that will be used in grant submissions, presentations & publications.
• Ensures that information is entered correctly into databases.
  • On a daily basis, uses a database application to enter timely and complete documentation of all encounters with patients who are users of Northwestern Medicine. Produces reports and documents that summarize navigation activities in alignment with research study protocol and requirements. Adheres to all policies and procedures on confidentiality in accordance to HIPAA regulations.
• Assists PI in reviewing, analyzing, interpreting, summarizing, formatting, editing, & preparing tables, charts, graphs, progress & final reports, etc.
• Coordinates between sponsoring agencies, collaborating organizations &/or other research &/or educational institutions.
  • Connects patients to community-based programs, hospital-based support, mental health care, and direct clinical support.
  • Conducts outreach and develops relationships with clinic partners, local healthcare organizations and social service agencies to build the patient engagement resources that support the patient experience specific to their health and wellness needs.
• Ensures that all study documents associated with current local, state, & federal regulatory guidelines, requirements, laws & research protocols are completed in a timely manner.

Finance

• Orders & maintains inventory of study supplies.
  • Help maintains participant compensation records and/or vouchers for services.
• Participates in staff development, required training, and continuing education activities as required to keep skills and knowledge current.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 3 years' research study or other relevant experience required; OR
• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 1 year research study or other relevant experience.
• Supervisory or project management experience required.
• Must complete NU's IRB CITI training before interacting with any participants & must re-certify every 3 years

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality and privacy of health information
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively and courteously with diverse populations in person, by phone, by text, and via email, determine the needs of patients from multicultural backgrounds and adapt communications appropriately to meet patients' needs.
• Ability to work independently and productively with frequent interruptions, in addition to contributing to a team environment.
• Interest in and commitment to improving women's health.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 1 year experience as a patient navigator or working with patients in a clinical setting.
• Bi-lingual English and Spanish speaker, with experience conducting research or clinical activities in both languages.
• Experience working in women's health.
• The above qualifications plus significant experience with providing patient support in an outpatient healthcare organization.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Comfort with text messaging, email, and other forms of electronic communication.
• Health education experience and/or interest in developing health education materials.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

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