Patient Navigator - Women's and Children's Services Augusta

About the Role

The Patient Navigator acts as a patient advocate, working with the patient care team to communicate scheduling issues. This position assesses patient needs, assists physicians and nurses in moving patients through the continuum of care, schedules appointments across sub-specialties, makes referrals, and navigates criteria-based scheduling.

Responsibilities

• Manages the patient's case and ensures the best path for care, developing trusting and therapeutic relationships to improve well-being.
• Promotes one-on-one contacts to help patients, families, and caregivers navigate multifaceted health networks.
• Coordinates care by scheduling appointments across multidisciplinary care teams and referring patients to internal/external resources as needed.
• Acts as a liaison between patients, nurses, physicians, allied health professionals, and others on the care team.
• Collaborates with the team to develop a comprehensive care plan based on the patient's individual needs and preferences.
• Serves as the primary educational resource for patients and families regarding care provided.
• Communicates relevant information to patients, family members, physicians, and the care team.
• Addresses patient concerns and questions about care, providing education to encourage empowerment.
• Develops partnerships with community clinics and social service entities.
• Collaborates with primary and specialty care providers to create care plans based on patient needs, preferences, and insurance permissibility.
• Ensures continuous communication with the referral coordinator and completes all necessary paperwork before the patient's scheduled day.
• Performs other duties as assigned and complies with all Wellstar Health System policies, standards of work, and code of conduct.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED (Associate’s in Health Administration preferred).
• Minimum 2 years of experience in a healthcare setting, patient scheduling, or care coordination.
• Computer literacy, excellent organization, and communication skills.

Additional years of relevant work experience and/or specialized training can be used in lieu of minimum education requirements.

Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Assessment, teamwork, initiative, and versatility.
• Familiarity with the communities served, including knowledge of cultural values, beliefs, and languages spoken.
• Commitment to community and relationships with stakeholders.

Schedule

Day shift (United States of America).