Care Technician - Grant Funded Role ending 9/2027

About the role

To promote and support access to HIV Services by: performing rapid HIV point of care (POC) testing to patients at the Center, perform case finding, facilitate and refer patients for initiation of Immediate Anti-Retroviral Therapy (IART), facilitate linkage to care for newly diagnosed individuals, and referring individuals for PrEP/PEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis/Post-Exposure Prophylaxis). This work is carried out in support of the mission and goals of Ryan Health.

Responsibilities

• Conduct POC HIV Testing utilizing all available methods, including Inverness Medical ClearView Rapid HIV- ½ Antibody Testing, OraSure and OraQuick ADVANCE Rapid Testing.
• Conduct Linkage to Care for individuals who test HIV Positive.
• Conduct linkage to Care for individuals who need to be connected for PrEP/PEP Services.
• Coordinate Long-Acting Injectable (LAI) services by tracking enrolled patients, scheduling injection appointments, and communicating with pharmacies and insurance providers to support timely access to and availability of LAI medications.
• Conduct promotion and patient recruitment for Ryan’s HIV services, in collaboration with the Network’s Prevention, Education, and Outreach (PEO) team.
• Educate community members and patients about the Center’s HIV and PrEP/PEP services.
• Develop linkages between health care and mental health providers, drug treatment programs, local social service agencies, and other resources to assure continuity of care of patients.
• Provide navigation services to link Ryan’s HIV patients to Primary Care, Medication Adherence, and other services, as appropriate.
• Identify, facilitate contact, conduct in-reach, and provide HIV coordination to patients who are in need, education motivational interviewing, and patient and provider reminders.
• Advocate on patients’ behalf to ensure patients receiving HIV support services are connected to all relevant and available entitlements, including enrollment in insurance assistance programs (e.g., ADAP).
• Practice accepted infection measures in accordance with OHSA Bloodborne Pathogens Standards.
• Provide crisis intervention and referrals to emergency services.
• Refer patients with overt psychiatric problems to psychiatric practitioners.
• Collaborate and consult with team and other service providers in identifying service gaps and care planning, disposition and closure.
• Conduct evenings, nights and weekends community outreach to increase caseload.
• Complete all required documentation on a timely basis including progress notes, medical records forms, Medical Provider HIV/AIDS and Partner/Contact Report Form (PRF) within 14 days of the patient’s diagnosis and any other required documentation.
• Attend required meetings, case conference and supervision, as assigned.
• Assist in the provision of presentations to Ryan staff about HIV and PrEP as assigned.
• Attend professional conferences, in-service seminars and meetings, as assigned.
• Immediately report any problems/unusual occurrences to supervisor.
• Perform other duties assigned.

Qualifications

Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent
• HIV Counseling and Testing certification
• NYS Driver’s License

Preferred:

• BSW or BA in Health or Human Services
• Bilingual English/Spanish, French Creole
• Medicaid/