The Community Health Navigator (CHN) is a core member of the GUIDE (Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience) program, an 8 yr pilot project funded by Medicare to provide support and resources to the dementia patient and their primary caregiver. Responsibilities include initial and ongoing assessment, developing, evaluating and revising the plan of care, timely documentation (written and electronic), and communication with team members. This job entails both home visits and telephone calls.
Essential Functions/Major Responsibilities:
- Administer program intervention, including scheduling and maintaining contact with participants via home visits and telephone calls (minimum of monthly); asking screening questions and document patient safety, behavior, function, medications, care needs; asking screening questions and documenting caregiver issues related to caregiver burden, depression, and poor coping; sending educational materials and information as indicated by care plan; provide assistance with navigating health systems, public benefits, and community based services; maintain privacy according to HIPAA regulations.
- Documentation: enter data and document on an integrated workflow management system and the electronic medical record to document and track progress and completion of interventions; communicate with respect and professionalism in all written interactions
- Participate in staff trainings (initial and ongoing); providing feedback to improve interventions; able to perform day to day office activities such as fax machines, emails, and sending mail.
Problem Solving:
Common problems solved by the employee:
- Providing standard educational materials to patients with dementia and their family caregiver
- Follow screening to document issues and care needs with standard tools
- Communicating identified needs and issues to the clinical team
- Responding to expressions of grief or emotional distress with compassion
Less frequent and more complex problems solved by the employee:
- Finding and screening community based resources to see if they can help address participant needs
- Using motivational interviewing strategies to help participants work towards their goals
- Discussing goals of care and long term care options with participants.
Problems/situations that are referred to this employee’s supervisor:
- Complex care planning or resource needs, behavioral challenges, or safety issues
- Communication with participants about challenging topics such as end of life, abuse, or family dysfunction
- Coordination of clinical care with health care providers around participants medications, mental health, safety risks and behaviors.
Required Qualifications:
- HS graduation and sufficient experience and demonstrated skills to successfully perform the assigned duties and responsibilities.
- Excellent verbal and written communications and presentation skills; excellent organizational skills; and excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively in a diverse team and patient population.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel
- Excellent analytical and problem solving skills
- Able to work effectively in fast paced, team based environment, uner supervision and able to prioritize and complete tasks in a timely manner
- Ability to establish cooperative working relationships with patients, coworkers, and health care and community service providers.
- CPR certification
- Current Oregon driver’s license, dependable transportation, and proof of automobile insurance. Private specialty vehicles and private off road vehicles are not acceptable employment transportation.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Community Health Navigator certification
- Bachelor’s degree with focus on psychology, sociology, or health field
- Experience with clinical care, geriatrics, and/or patients with dementia
Job Conditions:
Office, home and automobile settings. Condition of home varies. Can include climbing stairs at patient home. Cluttered, unclean and small confined space at times. Poor driving conditions during inclement weather. Extensive use of private automobile.
OSHA Category:
Category II: assigned tasks that involve no exposure to blood, body fluid, or tissues but activities may require performing unplanned Category I tasks.
Hours: Initial job will be 32 hours a week with potential to be full time as program expands in census.
Thank you for your interest in joining the team at Willamette Vital Health. We provide rewarding careers for passionate, caring, and experienced employees. We believe that everyone facing serious illness, death, and grief deserves access to the best personalized and compassionate care available, and the team at Willamette Vital Health strives to provide such care.
Willamette Vital Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to providing a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, physical characteristics, age, religion, creed, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability, victim of violence or bias, or veteran status. All qualified candidates legally able to work in the United States are encouraged to apply.
