Emergency Department Navigator - Community Outreach

Summary:

Provides underserved patients and their families with culturally appropriate non-clinical support and information in the emergency department and primary care clinics. Navigates patients and families to health and social services in the community and coordinates community-based care referrals. Emphasizes the importance of a medical home and proper utilization of the emergency department and outpatient clinics.

Responsibilities:

• Identifies and visits patients who have frequently used the emergency department for non-emergent episodes.
• Obtains reliable patient demographics and contact information from patients in the emergency department.
• Conducts interviews with patients to begin an assessment of the barriers and circumstances that led the patient to the emergency department.
• Addresses and closes the gaps in service coordination.
• Provides patient with information and linkage with a primary care provider if patient without provider.
• Contacts patient's primary care provider and advises of ED visit. Schedules follow-up appointment for patient with provider.
• Provides patients and families with health-related social needs to community-based resources through screening, referral, and navigation.
• Contacts patient and referral sources within 24 hours after discharge from the emergency department to assure service coordination and continuity of care.
• Educates patients and families about medical homes and the proper use of the emergency department.
• As directed by manager, may help coordinate and train interns and volunteers; may also monitor data submitted by interns and volunteers.
• Demonstrates competence to perform assigned responsibilities is a manner that meets the population-specific and developmental needs of patients and their families.
• Appropriately adapts assigned assessment, treatment, and/or service methods to accommodate the unique physical, psychosocial, cultural, age-specific and other developmental needs of patients and their families.
• Takes personal responsibility to ensure compliance with all policies, procedures and standards as promulgated by state and federal agencies, the hospital, and other regulatory entities.
• Performs all duties in a manner that protects the confidentiality of patients and does not solicit or disclose any confidential information unless it is necessary in the performance of assigned job duties.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

Education

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Associate Degree or completion of a certified Community Health Worker training program preferred

Experience

• Previous experience with healthcare provider or community-based organizations
• Computer literacy
• Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training preferred
• Significant experience and knowledge of medical service delivery and community-based health and social services
• Knowledge of the uninsured and underserved populations in area
• Cultural Competence/Humility
• The skill and knowledge competencies identified in the National Community Health Advisor Study, in June 1998, for Community Health Workers. These include communication skills, capacity-building skills, interpersonal skills, service coordination skills, advocacy skills, teaching skills, organizational skills, and broad knowledge about community health issues and social services.

Licenses, Registrations, or Certifications

• BLS certification preferred

Work Type:

Full Time