Patient Navigator - Adult Cochlear Implant Program

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About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of Duke Health's four hospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Occ Summary

The Patient Navigator Special Patient Population provides navigation services across the care continuum for the patients for a specialized patient population based on phase of care or identified need. The Patient Navigator Special Patient Population works with an identified patient population to develop, implement, and support comprehensive care plans to ensure patients receive appropriate medical and psychosocial care that is equitable, patient centered, and timely. The Patient Navigator Special Patient Population will work as an integral part of an interdisciplinary team, ensuring excellence in patient care, in an effort to achieve optimal clinical outcomes through a seamless model of access and care.

Work Performed

The Patient Navigator for the Adult Cochlear Implant (CI) program will ensure comprehensive, timely, and seamless care in support of care plans, coordination with the CI medical team, and providing patients, their care partners, and family members education and support. Specifically, the Patient Navigator will triage external and internal referrals for CI candidacy evaluations by conducting a chart review to determine initial candidacy and identify barriers/concerns. The patient Navigator will coordinate appointments with medical team members to determine initial candidacy requirements, educating families on the process, and ensuring communication of results amongst the team members. For patients who are deemed a CI candidate, the patient Navigator will coordinate the additional pre and post operative visits with the remaining CI team members. They also will coordinate educational sessions between the patient and the manufacturer(s) pre and/or post-operatively as appropriate. For those with current CIs who are experiencing issues, the Patient Navigator will also determine which care team members the patient needs to see to address their medical problems and educate them on the issue(s), and ensuring the issue is resolved. Concerns/barriers/gaps in care will be assessed/troubleshooted and raised with the appropriate CI team member(s). They also will serve as an advocate for the patient and provide supportive education that will optimize patient participation in each step of the process and decision-making needs.

Documents direct patient encounters and indirect patient encounters (e.g., with the CI manufacturer, letters of medical necessity) in the medical record, and bridges the communication between the patient, CI medical team, manufacturer, and other health system team members.  They also will document patient data in clinic repositories to ensure no step in the CI process is missed and that all required information is obtained from the patient and care team members for surgery or other CI-related services.

The CI Patient Navigator assists to build and maintain community relationships to provide expedient and reliable access to quality hearing care for our patients who live out of the service area and/or out of state.

Duties and Responsibilities of this Level

• For the identified patient population, Patient Navigator Special Patient Population will ensure comprehensive, timely, and seamless care through development and support of care plans, coordination with medical team members, and providing patient education and support.
• Exhibit extensive understanding of patient care and health system pathways and serve as a conduit between patients and providers to address medical and psychosocial needs.
• Assess the educational needs of the patient. Provide education about diagnosis, treatment, side effects, and post treatment care or other specialty topic area based on patient population needs. Provide care and education in a culturally competent manner.
• Assess and document patient's needs, goals and preferences and ensure preferences are integrated into treatment and care delivery.
• Bridge gaps in care and assess/troubleshoot transitions in care and barriers to care.
• Document all patient encounters in EPIC.
• Enhance access to therapeutic clinical trials and optimize communication with patients, families and investigators regarding therapeutic clinical trials. Provide targeted patient education regarding clinical trials, to assist patients in making informed decisions.
• Reinforcing patient education to facilitate active participation in decision-making in care.
• Practice according to professional and legal standards.
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Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Excellent written, oral, and conversational communication skills to effectively work with diverse groups. Ability to analyze, evaluate multiple solutions and solve complex problems using well-developed critical & analytical thinking skills. Excellent time management skills are needed to prioritize among many competing priorities. Attention to detail is essential for operating accurately and effectively. Mastery of Microsoft Office, especially Word and Excel, and electronic medical record documentation and/or reporting. Metric tracking skills

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's degree in a clinical field, such as behavioral/social sciences, health education, or public health fields. Preferred health science. 

Experience

Three years of experience in a patient-centered, health-related field. Experience in patient navigation preferred. Good communication skills (oral and written), multitasking, and following up are critical. Experience in patient navigation and working with adults in clinical settings preferred, especially in roles involving education, coordination, or support for individuals with sensory or communication needs. 

Degrees, Licensures, Certifications

Completion of national patient navigation training is preferred.

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Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.