Patient Advocate

Job Announcement

Position Title: Patient Advocate

Department: Medical

Supervised By: Community Health Nurse

Location: Alpine / Campo

Status: Non-Exempt / Hourly

Posted: August 19, 2024

Closing Date: Until Filled

Salary: $21.00 - $25.76 / Hour - DOE

Grant: N/A

Hours: Full time, Monday-Friday, 8:00AM-4:30PM.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Guide and offer patients assistance to community members in navigating patients health services provided by SIHC and referrals made by SIHC. Establish and help maintain communication between patients, their families, clinicians, and the health care system while offering additional assistance when needed. Improve health care outcomes and reduce health disparities for SIHC patients.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide a variety of support services such as arranging various forms of financial assistance, arranging interpretation services, ensuring coordination of services among medical staff, provide social and emotional support among other services (or connect patients to community and social support services).
• Communicating with patients (in person or by other means), identifying and addressing patient barriers to care (e.g., fear, knowledge, clinic visit logistics, etc.), preparing and facilitating patient interaction with clinical providers, and providing support and empathy.
• Refer patients to appropriate health care services or resources.
• Maintain knowledge of community services and resources available to patients.
• Explain policies, procedures, or services to patients using medical or administrative knowledge.
• Schedule clinic appointments and obtaining screening services.
• Contact primary provider on the patients' behalf.
• Follow participants from the initial clinic appointment though clinical diagnostic evaluation.
• Maintain good relationships with patients.
• Make reminder and follow up telephone calls.
• routine queries of SIHC electronic health record (EHR - NEXTGEN) system to identify patients that need follow up appointments.
• Maintain excellent data entry practices to ensure effective patient tracking and efficient evaluation.
• Complete a face-to-face visit with patients to perform an assessment and complete a care plan.
• Follow patients during treatment and refer to community-based organizations to address gaps in care.
• Provide post-treatment follow-up, contact and update care plan as needed
• Integrate prevention and screening recall systems into electronic medical record.
• Assist in data collection, data entry, evaluation and program reports
• Makes referrals to other departments and outside providers. Schedules appointments with other providers for patients and schedules transportation when appropriate.
• Collaborate with SIHC and outside providers and tribal offices in recruiting participants in the Family Spirit program.
• Review Hospital Discharge folder for reports of ER visits and hospitalizations to ensure proper PCP follow up is scheduled.
• Attends staff meetings, participates in Clinic continuing education programs and attends training and professional conferences as requested.
• Participates in quality improvement activities.
• Traveling and driving as required.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule may be required based on need.
• Perform other duties or special projects as required.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education/Experience: Minimum of a High School Diploma or GED required. Minimum of three years of experience with a focus in Education, training and/or experience that clearly demonstrates possession of the knowledge and skills stated above. A minimum of two years Medical Assistant experience in an ambulatory care setting preferred. Must be at least 18 years old.

• Licenses/Certifications: A valid California driver’s license required with application submission and must be maintained throughout employment. Current certifications and/or licenses appropriate to the positions required education and profession.
• Character: Applicants must have a reputation for honesty and trustworthiness. Must be responsible and able to exercise good judgment, accept administrative supervision, pay attention to detail, follow instructions, including the ability to interact effectively and communicate with people in a professional and courteous manner. Must be highly confidential and work as a team with other staff. Applicant should be sensitive to client’s needs.

• Skills: Strong team building, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Ability to establish and maintain effective peer relationships with coworkers within the Department, clinic-wide, and the public. Must be able to express ideas clearly, concisely, address audiences effectively, and exercise balanced judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions. Willing to be part of a team and cooperate in accomplishing department goals and objectives. Ability to prioritize, meet deadlines, take initiative, be proactive, and function in a rapidly changing environment. Ability to work with people of all social and ethnic backgrounds and to resolve conflicts, negotiates situations, and facilitate consensus.

• Physical and Personal Requirements: Normal clinic/office environment. Sit or stand for long periods of time. Reach, bend, climb, stoop, lift up to 25 lbs. repetitive hand movement; use and view PC. Reliable transportation and car insurance as required by the state. Travel as needed.

• Other: Applicants must successfully pass a pre-screening tuberculin skin test or x-ray and a blood/urine drug screening test. Health must be adequate to perform all duties of the position. Applicant must complete SIHC Application and Authorization Form, both must be submitted to Human Resources prior to the close date indicated.

INDIAN PREFERENCE: In the filling of any SIHC job vacancy, preference may be given to qualified Native American Indians, pursuant to the Indian Preference Hiring Act, 25 USC 472, unless other laws require the filling of a vacancy without regard to Indian preference (e.g. Public Law (P.L.) 94-437, “Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA). To receive Indian preference for any SIHC position, the applicant must be enrolled, or be eligible for enrollment, as an American Indian with their Tribe, or must be certified as an American Indian from the designated Tribal Representative. Applicants claiming Indian preference must attach verification of their claim to the SIHC application, including Certification of form BIA-4432, which is available from the SIHC Human Resources Department. If verification is not or cannot be verified, the applicant will not receive Indian preference for purposes of the interview.