Ascending to Health: Patient Navigator (MA/EMT) [Medical Assistant, Patient Care, Medical Respite, Healthcare]

Ascending to Health Respite Care is a medical respite program for people experiencing homelessness, that also provides primary medical care. The program serves homeless individuals being discharged from inpatient hospital stays who are too well to remain hospitalized, but who are too fragile to care for themselves effectively in a shelter or on the street. Both the medical respite and clinical components are based on outreach and meeting patients where they are.

About the role

The Patient Navigator is a dual-capacity position that supports the provider in clinical and outreach settings and is the first and primary contact for patients participating in the medical respite program.

Responsibilities

Clinical Support

• Schedules appointments and checks patients in
• Assists provider in clinical encounters
• Arranges follow-up appointments for labs and specialty care providers
• Ensures clinical space is clean, stocked, and ready for encounters
• Maintains appropriate supplies for housing and field-based encounters
• Clinical encounters may occur in the clinic office, patient rooms, or street outreach settings

The ideal candidate is able to ride a bicycle 15 - 20 miles per day while assisting with bicycle-based outreach up to three times per week, when needed to support outreach.

Medical Respite Support

• Conducts daily rounds to check, record, and monitor patient vital signs
• Replenishes patient food and hygiene supplies
• Ensures patients are scheduled for and attend follow-up appointments
• Picks up medications from pharmacies
• Manages and administers controlled medications for patients in the program, when necessary
• Monitors medical, hygiene, food, and office supplies and submits replenishment orders

Patient Care and Clinical Support

• Support clinical workflow: room patients and complete necessary documentation
• Perform patient vitals: pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, weight, height, SPO2, and report abnormalities to nursing/provider staff
• Prepare patient rooms using infection-control practices
• Perform in-house CLIA-waived testing and required quality controls, when appropriately trained
• Administer medication injections, when appropriately trained
• Accompany provider and other team members in outreach activities, including medical visits

Patient Coordination and Documentation

• Create and manage patient appointments in practice management system
• Update patient information accurately and promptly in the electronic health record (EHR)
• Assist in completing incoming paperwork and forms using information from the EHR, ensuring all required releases of information (ROI) are completed
• Forward documents to the provider as appropriate for decision-making
• Communicate effectively and professionally with patients and internal and external providers, documenting all communications in the medical record
• Send and follow-up on patient referrals and lab orders
• Arrange for the pickup or delivery of patient prescriptions
• Coordinate and deliver food to patients

Program and Facility Support

• Support the Lead Navigator in arranging and conducting prospective patient interviews, as needed
• Support the Lead Navigator with patient intakes and discharges, as needed
• Participate in team huddles
• Monitor and maintain supply levels and routinely remove expired products
• Ensure the facility remains neat, clean, and uncluttered

Skills

• Critical-thinking skills and comfort making decisions within the scope of the position
• Flexibility and resilience when working with patients and community partners to achieve therapeutic outcomes
• High emotional intelligence and a willingness to learn from clinical staff, coworkers, community partners, and patients
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries with patients and their support networks
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to accurately and professionally implement and document the services provided
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, and familiarity with electronic medical records
• Strong customer service, prioritization, and organizational skills

Requirements

• Must be at least 18 years old
• High school diploma or GED required
• Current MA or EMT certification; national certification preferred
• Three years of relevant experience preferred
• Equivalent military training and certification accepted
• CPR/BLS certification required; training will be provided
• Mental Health First Aid required; training will be provided
• De-escalation training required; training will be provided
• QMAP Certification required; training will be provided

Pay

$19 to $22 per hour (approximately $39,520 to $45,760 per year) depending on experience/training.

Schedule

Full Time: 40 hours/week, half days on alternating weekends required.