Patient Navigator (Healthcare)

JOB SUMMARY: The Patient Navigator is experienced in the flow of events during the screening, diagnostic, treatment, and survivorship of breast cancer. This role uses specific navigation tools to assess barriers, educate, and support the patient throughout the continuum of breast care with a set of holistic standards. These standards include ongoing assessment and support of physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, financial, legal, educational, sexuality, and family needs. The Patient Navigator effectively utilizes assistance from facility, community, and national resources to lessen the severity of impact of a diagnosis of breast cancer.

This position is a Safety Sensitive Position. The essential functions, physical demands, and mental competencies of this job require the employee maintain the ability to work in a constant state of alertness in a safe manner.

JOB SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Utilizes best practices for the improvement of patient access to timely and appropriate breast care, evidence-based guidelines, and the cancer care experience in accordance with his/her scope of practice.Provides patient-centered navigation, education, and care coordination across the breast care continuum (screening, diagnosis, active treatment, survivorship and/or end-of-life care).Identifies potential and realized barriers to care (financial, practical, and social).Partners with patients/families to address their concerns, issues, and needs. Identifies appropriate and available resources/programs/support system to reduce or eliminate needs and barriers.Assists patients in accessing care and navigating health care systems. Supports patients through advocacy, education, coordination of care and continued assessment of barriers and needs.

OTHER JOB REQUIREMENTS: None

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY: None

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, LICENSURE and REGISTRATION:
High School Diploma or equivalent, higher education preferredBLS RequiredCertified Navigator Breast Advocate (CN-BA) thru NCBC Breast Navigation program preferred.1 year experience in breast navigation preferred.

REASONING ABILITY:
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or schedule form.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:
Must interact and communicate both verbally and in written form.Must interact and exchange information regarding patients with physicians and other departmental personnel, and outside agencies on a frequent basis while respecting the confidentiality of patient information.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.The employee regularly is required to stand, walk, sit, use hand to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
This position involves potential exposure to infectious diseases. Colleagues are offered appropriate vaccinations and safety training.

COMMENTS:
This description is intended to describe the essential job functions, the general supplemental functions and the essential requirements for the performance of the job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities and requirements of a person so classified. Other functions may be assigned and management retains the right to add or change the duties at any time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.