Patient Health Navigator

About the role

Family Health Centers of San Diego’s (FHCSD) mission has been to provide caring, affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income and medically underserved persons. FHCSD is one of the top 10 largest federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in the country. We operate more than 90 sites across San Diego County, including primary care clinics, behavioral health facilities, physical rehabilitation clinics, dental clinics, vision clinics, substance use treatment programs, mobile medical units, mobile counseling centers, urgent care centers, and a pharmacy. Our staff provides care to over 227,000 patients each year, of whom 91% are low-income and 29% are uninsured. FHCSD provides care to all. Services include adult care, chronic disease management, pediatrics, comprehensive women’s care including obstetrics, dental, vision, case management, physical rehabilitation, speech therapy for children, vaccinations, infectious diseases, behavioral health, substance use counseling and specialty services including cardiology, podiatry, endocrinology, and dermatology.

Family Health Centers of San Diego is looking for a Patient Health Navigator to work under supervision, providing direct and indirect patient/client navigation services to support linkage and maintenance in care, including completion of internal and external referrals, for the assigned program(s). Duties may vary depending on specific assignment, but in addition to direct patient/client interaction, may include participation in quality improvement projects, retention efforts, or delivery of enabling services. Collaborates with a multi-disciplinary team and deals with a diverse group of customers, patients, and visitors, as well as internal contacts at all levels of the organization. May have assigned caseload of patients/clients. Engages in team approach to patient/client care.

Responsibilities

• Assesses each patient’s potential barriers to care and supports steps to overcome these barriers.
• Provides assistance in anticipating and responding to the needs of all patients and family members.
• Manages templates for day-to-day patient schedules, edits, and reschedules.
• Verifies and updates patient demographics as needed to ensure up-to-date information in EMR.
• Completes all required documentation and reports accurately, in a timely manner, and thoroughly in accordance with department standards.
• Works closely with medical providers to assist with completion of prior authorization and patient assistance program requests.
• Serves as a liaison between internal and external customers, including patients/clients, other FHCSD service staff and other service providers, for the purpose of improving patient/client quality of care and flow.
• Works in collaboration with all members of the healthcare and departmental program on retention, appointment completion, and identifying barriers to care (e.g., quality improvement projects, case reviews, etc.).
• Engages in patient/client interactions via telephone and in person to identify and meet patient/client needs, including facilitation of assisted and unassisted referrals, resources, and follow-up, depending on presenting needs.
• Assists with scheduling, organizing, and managing a patient/client’s healthcare maintenance and treatment.
• Performs general clerical tasks as assigned, which may include filing, processing paperwork, data entry, scanning/photocopying, agenda creation and minutes, encounter reports, scheduling, and similar tasks.
• Uses discretion during all interactions to answer both routine and complicated questions, forwards issues to appropriate person, and handles confidential and routine information.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High School diploma (or GED equivalent) required.
• 2 years of experience with health education or working in the medical/health related field preferred.
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the skills, knowledge, and ability to perform the essential job duties, and which meets any required state or federal certification requirements.
• Ability and means to travel as needed in a timely manner within San Diego County.
• Driver requirements: Active Class C California driver’s license, proof of liability insurance at $100,000 on vehicle used; no more than 2 points in past 12 months; no suspensions in last 2 years for moving violations; no DUI, reckless or felony driving within 5 years; no license revocation in 7 years.
• Specific certifications may be required or preferred depending on assignment (e.g., CA HIV Test Counselor, limited CPT certification for waived testing, etc.).
• Bilingual (English/Arabic) may be required depending on assignment.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $22.00 – $27.74 per hour.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with excellent benefits.
• Retirement plan with employer match.
• Paid time off, extended sick leave, and paid holidays.
• Medical, dental, vision, FSA, and life insurance.
• Employee discounts and wellness programs.

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to community medicine and providing culturally competent care to the medically underserved.