Outpatient Navigator GFP - Full Time

Position Summary

The Outpatient Navigator is responsible for coordinating post-emergency department (ED) follow-up care for recently discharged patients. This role serves as a critical bridge between the emergency department, primary care providers, specialists, and community resources to improve continuity of care, reduce avoidable readmissions, and enhance patient outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Review emergency department discharge reports and identify patients requiring outpatient follow-up.
• Contact discharged patients to assess needs, reinforce discharge instructions, and coordinate timely follow-up appointments.
• Schedule appointments with primary care providers, specialists, imaging, laboratory services, or other ancillary services as appropriate.
• Assist patients with barriers to care including transportation, insurance concerns, medication access, or community resource needs.
• Educate patients on treatment plans, medications, follow-up recommendations, and warning signs requiring further medical attention.
• Collaborate with physicians, nursing staff, care managers, and outpatient practices to ensure seamless transitions of care.
• Document all patient outreach, care coordination activities, and follow-up outcomes in the electronic medical record (EMR).
• Monitor high-risk patient populations and escalate concerns to clinical leadership when necessary.
• Support organizational goals related to patient satisfaction, quality metrics, and reduced ED utilization/readmissions.

Qualifications

• Required: Current certification/licensure as one of the following: Medical Assistant (MA), LPN. Minimum of 2 years of clinical healthcare experience. Experience in emergency department, ambulatory care, care coordination, case management, or population health preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to multitask and manage high patient outreach volumes. Proficiency with electronic medical records (EMR/EHR) systems.
• PREFERRED: Experience with transitional care management or patient navigation programs. Knowledge of insurance authorization processes and community resources. Bilingual abilities are a plus.

Skills & Competencies

• Patient-centered communication
• Care coordination and navigation
• Critical thinking and problem-solving
• Time management and organization
• Team collaboration
• Documentation accuracy
• Empathy and professionalism

Work Environment

• Primarily outpatient/office-based setting
• Frequent telephone outreach and EMR documentation
• Collaboration with emergency department and outpatient clinical teams

Goals of the Role

• Improve patient access to timely follow-up care
• Reduce unnecessary emergency department revisits
• Improve continuity of care and patient outcomes
• Enhance patient satisfaction and engagement