Hawaii Island Community Health Center
Job Title: Patient Navigator-Health Equity (Reproductive Health)
POSITION FUNCTION SUMMARYPatient Navigators (PN) in the reproductive health program are responsible for providing Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center (HICHC) patients with a full spectrum of inclusive, quality reproductive health care, family planning, support services, and preventative health services. These programs will provide a range of health services in family planning, STI prevention/treatment, contraceptive methods, pre- and inter-ception care and care of at-risk pregnant women. PNs primarily work in a clinical setting and may participate in outreach work in the community.
PNs are under the direct supervision of the Patient Navigation Supervisor and under the general supervision of the Health Equity Associate Director. PNs in the reproductive health program will take direction from the Reproductive Health Program Manager.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
This position may have various work assignments within HICHC. This description is intended to be generic in nature, and as such it does not detail all duties and responsibilities of the job assignment. Various duties, responsibilities and accountabilities may be assigned to an incumbent in this position depending on clinic needs, and may include but not be limited to the following:
- Provides support to address the non-clinical barriers that patients face, with a focus on the social factors that negatively affect the patient’s health (i.e., health insurance enrollment, housing, transportation).
- Conducts comprehensive interviews to gather relevant health and social history for reproductive health patients.
- Conducts prenatal risk assessments for all pregnant patients.
- Manages a caseload of prenatal patients, facilitating an individualized 45-week health and wellness perinatal educational program and support for pregnant women with at-risk pregnancies.
- Establishes close relationships with assigned patients and serves as primary point of contact.
- Coordinates services and provides case management tailored to individuals’ reproductive health needs.
- Educates patients on various aspects of prenatal care, including nutrition, lifestyle modifications, and contraception prior to delivery.
- Offers education on infant care, breastfeeding, and postpartum health to prepare patients for the post-delivery period.
- Ensures patients complete required prenatal labs and obstetrical imaging.
- Assists obstetric patients post-delivery by obtaining hospital birthing records, recording Apgar scores, assisting with FMLA and maternity leave paperwork, and conducting follow-up outreach to encourage postpartum appointments.
- Provides brief counseling on contraceptive choices and pregnancy options, promoting all options equally.
- Facilitates referrals for clinically indicated services outside of the organization (i.e., family support services, substance use treatment).
- Assists patients with paperwork and applications (i.e., WIC).
- Interprets patients’ laboratory results, including positive STI results, overdue and abnormal pap smears, and breast exams.
- Conducts outreach and supports patients in following through with treatment, while tracking these patient populations in a registry.
- Documents all service contacts in a timely manner, including face-to-face meetings, collateral and networking contacts, correspondence, and maintains case records in accordance with agency and regulatory standards and requirements.
- Collects, inputs, and tracks data related to reproductive health initiatives, and manages registries of target populations.
- Builds relationships with community-based organizations that address upstream factors impacting patients, such as housing, benefits, and food resources.
- Engages in advocacy through participation in committees and coalition work aimed at changing systems negatively impacting patients.
- Participates in interdisciplinary staff meetings, interagency meetings, and huddles to enhance service continuity and improvement.
- Meets regularly with the immediate supervisor for professional development in reproductive health and obstetric education, while reviewing and processing service provision.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor consistent with the position and in compliance with HICHC policies and procedures.
POSITION SPECIFICATIONS Requirements Of Position
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education And Experience
- High School graduate or GED certificate required.
- Two years related experience in health or social services field required.
- Bachelor’s degree in Human Services field strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of local community resources and social services agencies preferred.
Licenses and Certifications
- Valid Hawaiʻi driver's license and current auto insurance required.
- Pregnancy Options Counseling and Family Planning Health Worker certifications need to be completed and passed within the first year of employment.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Must be sympathetic and compassionate to the client’s issues, while maintaining professional boundaries.
- Must be able to work as part of an interdisciplinary team.
- Ability to prioritize and balance tasks in a high paced environment, with autonomy.
- Problem solving skills—the individual identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully and utilizes management appropriately.
- Displays high level of professionalism, ethical decision-making skills, and emotional stability.
- Technological aptitudes - the individual is adept at utilizing Microsoft Office applications, video teleconferencing platforms, and is able to learn new skills in adjacent electronic documentation systems.
- Able to travel to and from clinic locations and in the community, with a valid driver's license, working vehicle and current insurance.
Language Skills
- Ability to read and interpret documents such as patient records, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, etc.
- Ability to write at an above average level of competence, including internal reports and memoranda.
- Ability to communicate with diverse groups of people to include staff and providers and patients.
- Ability to communicate effectively with patients and their families to make their visit a pleasant experience.
- Sensitivity to the multicultural nature of the service area population and may be required to communicate in another language.
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Prolonged periods of standing, bending and reaching.
- Must be able to lift up to 20 pounds at times.
Personal Characteristics
Personal characteristics include: a team player, high integrity, multitasker, communication and customer relations skills, regular work attendance, courteous and friendly, able to work well with diverse groups of people, gain and maintain the respect of others, accept HICHC mission and values