Health Navigator, Sexual Health

Primary Responsibilities

• Register and check-in patients during walk-in hours
• Communicate with navigators, nurses, and providers about patient's needs after being checked into the Epic system
• Answer the Sexual Health Hotline to screen and triage callers
• Provide direct services in the clinic, creating a non-judgmental, patient-centered atmosphere
• Discuss HIV and STI prevention information and the importance of accessing care with patients (focusing on priority populations)
• Complete demographic and risk assessment forms in Epic using motivational interviewing techniques
• Conduct serum testing for HIV, HCV, and syphilis, performing phlebotomy
• Communicate with providers, nurses, and other navigators about patient's care throughout the clinic
• Document results to patients by accessing the Massachusetts State Lab Electronic Laboratory Reporting and Communication, according to established workflows
• Follow-up as needed to ensure patient's needs are met
• Provide extended or multi-session counseling sessions for HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative clients when appropriate, including with evidence-based interventions
• Perform Health Navigation, making supported referrals, and accompanying clients to service sites when appropriate, to address the full spectrum of client needs

Outreach (outside of clinic)

• Participate in program planning through interdisciplinary team meetings to design and implement community outreach initiatives and screening events to reach members of at-risk communities
• Auxiliary support for outreach events, as needed

Agency Participatory Expectations

• Ensures all patients receive patient-centered, non-judgmental care
• Suggests and participates in continuing quality improvement efforts
• Adheres to all agency and departmental policies and procedures
• Participates in quality assessment and improvement activities as requested
• Adheres to the highest principles of patient and client confidentiality
• Adheres to established safety policies, procedures, and precautions; identifies potential or actual unsafe situations in the environment and takes measures to rectify the situation
• Attends all required meetings, in-services, and professional trainings
• Attends all regularly scheduled research meetings, trainings, forums, and pertinent FCH staff meetings
• Maintains professional competence necessary to perform job responsibilities; maintains and provides agency with records of continuing education activities

Requirements

• Minimum two years relevant work experience
• Note: A bachelor’s degree plus relevant experience may substitute for the minimum work experience requirement
• Willingness and ability to learn and perform phlebotomy (with prior competence preferred but not required)
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize assigned duties, and keep written records
• Ability to work independently and in small groups
• Ability to manage clinically and emotionally challenging situations with utmost professionalism, care, and discretion
• Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of individuals and communities at risk for HIV – especially men who have sex with men, transgender people, injection drug users, people of color, those who are foreign-born and may be undocumented, and those who are homeless or unstably housed
• Demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. This includes engaging constructively with colleagues, patients, clients, and vendors in a manner that reflects professionalism, empathy, and cultural awareness, without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or other protected characteristics as defined by applicable law.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience providing HIV or substance abuse education preferred but not required
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Experience working in an ethnically, culturally, and racially diverse environment preferred
• Strong interest in LGBTQIA+ health

Physical Requirements

• Ability to meet the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodation:
• Sit at a computer station for extended periods.
• Ability to keyboard for extended periods.
• Requires handling average-weight objects up to 15-20 pounds and occasionally assisting patients.
• May work with blood or blood-borne pathogens and may require OSHA training.
• Ability to travel to community events and venues, including bars and nightclubs, to perform outreach activities.