Patient Navigator

Position Title: Patient Navigator

Reports to: Senior Director of Clinical Operations

THE RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE

The Rhode Island Public Health Institute (RIPHI) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to reduce health disparities in Rhode Island and beyond. RIPHI oversees public health programs, and conducts research related to population health, and trains physicians, students and public health practitioners.

In recent years, RIPHI’s programs have attracted local and national media attention as well as local and national awards for public health innovation. RIPHI owns and operates Open Door Health, the state’s first and only LGBTQ+ community clinic: Open Door Health provides primary care, sexual health care, family planning services, and gender affirming care to Rhode Island’s diverse community. Open Door Health also offers "express STI screening," which allows patients to quickly access STI services. RIPHI also hosts a Ryan White HIV treatment and care program at Open Door Health as well as large HIV prevention programs.

In addition, RIPHI founded several innovative public health programs focused on enhancing food and nutrition security. RIPHI operates Food on the Move, one of the largest mobile produce programs in the country. RIPHI leads Nourish Rhode Island, a coalition advocating for SNAP incentives in grocery stores to promote healthy eating among SNAP recipients. SNAP incentives double the value of the dollar when people buy fresh produce. That campaign led to a statewide program for 140,000 SNAP recipients in Rhode Island; this program doubles the value of the dollar when SNAP recipients buy fresh produce.

In 2024, RIPHI and Open Door Health began a statewide program to integrate primary care with behavioral health services. RIPHI also owns Open Mind, a behavioral health program that responds to patients’ behavioral health needs with short- and long-term therapy services, psychiatry, addiction treatment, and by integrating behavioral health services with primary care services. RIPHI uses population health data in all its research, clinical and charitable service programs. RIPHI recently adopted a 5-year strategic plan that includes opening and growing both a new research center and a new communications center to support RIPHI’s work to advance population health. In the last year, RIPHI has secured over $15 million in grant funding and is looking forward to continuing growing our programs and research portfolio in alignment with RIPHI’s strategic plan.

During the last several years, RIPHI led several successful advocacy campaigns culminating in legislative victories, legislative appropriations, and statewide policy changes. These were related to food and nutrition, security, hunger alleviation, HIV policy, access to medicines, and fiscal. RIPHI plans to continue its public health advocacy work in the coming years.

RIPHI’s rapid and currently growing portfolio also includes programs related to food insecurity, nutrition and active living, hepatitis C virus (HCV), HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce HIV transmission, mental health, social determinants of health, geographically focused health interventions, and other efforts to reduce health disparities. To learn more about RIPHI and Open Door Health, visit https://www.riphi.organd www.odhpvd.org.

Position Summary:

In accordance with established policies and procedures, the Patient Navigator collaborates with the medical team and reports to the Senior Director of Clinical Operations. Patient navigation in the primary care setting refers to the assistance offered to healthcare consumers to help them access and then chart a course through the healthcare system and overcome any barriers to quality care. They are responsible for coordinating patient care activities for select, at-risk individuals with clinically significant challenges related to medication management, socioeconomic challenges, or medical comorbidities. The patient navigator functions as the guide who will assist patients with a focus on the LGBTQ+ community move through the complexities of the healthcare system. Importantly, the patient navigator will perform data entry to evaluate patient outcomes and manage data systems to support patient retention in care.

Responsibilities:

The patient navigator assumes a key role in assuring care on a continuum, coordinating patient care activities for individuals with clinically significant challenges by:

· Monitoring retention in clinical care for all patients presenting for HIV care, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, and Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment services;

· Maintaining accurate data related to patient engagement and navigation needs for all patients requiring navigation;

· Coordinating Medical Case Management services for eligible patients;

· Leading prior authorization requests for essential medications and procedures;

· Calling pharmacies to identify gaps in patient medication coverage and adherence;

· Referring patients to other health professionals and support services as appropriate (e.g. nutritionist, psychiatrist, social worker, peer recovery coach, etc.);

· Participating in ongoing education and networking regarding navigation of patients with complex care needs and socioeconomic challenges;

· Ensuring team is kept apprised of patient’s condition and anticipated needs;

· Providing appropriate patient and family education/counseling regarding disease and treatment, potential complications, signs, and symptoms requiring immediate attention;

· Documenting patient’s progress, compliance, and other essential information in the medical record;

· Conducting ongoing quality assurance activities by collecting and analyzing patient data and auditing patient records, as appropriate;

· Collecting and reporting information to ensure compliance with grant expectations and reporting requirements, if appropriate;

· Participating in developing internal policies, procedures, and standards of patient care in conjunction with other members of the clinical team;

· Participating in developing specific patient care protocols (care pathways / roadmaps);

· Assisting in preparing grant proposals and writing program reports, if appropriate;

· Completing other tasks as assigned and competency verified to do, including but not limited to phlebotomy, COVID-19 testing, patient registration, lab results reporting.

Perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Requirements:

Education & Experience

· Minimum four-year bachelor’s degree;

· Minimum of 3 years’ experience;

· Current and valid BLS certification;

· Demonstrated knowledge and skills necessary to provide care to patients with consideration of health equity, cultural patterns, gender diversity, and evidence based medical care throughout the care/treatment process;

· Experience and comfort in issues related to substance use, harm reduction, homelessness, chronic and/or infectious disease, mental health, and/or bi-lingual/bi-cultural communities;

· Experience providing culturally congruent care to LGBTQ+ communities and other sexual and gender minorities;

· Bi-lingual/bi-cultural Spanish or/and Portuguese is preferred.

Knowledge & Skills

· Strong attention to detail and highly organized;

· Strong written and oral communication skills;

· Excellent time management skills;

· Ability to work with a team and independently;

· Ability to work in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment;

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PPT) and Adobe Acrobat;

· Passion for community-based research and reducing health disparities;

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands; balance, stoop, kneel or crouch: and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. As RIPHI operates in a normal patient care environment there is possible exposure to infectious diseases. Hazards are minimized by adherence to established safety precautions.

Work Environment:

Rhode Island Public Health Institute is an equal opportunity employer. We encourage diverse candidates to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, expression or preference, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, socio-economic status or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please send a CV and letter of interest with salary requirements to: duffay.cuartas@riphi.org

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $25.00 - $31.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Do you have at least 2 years of experience working as a patient navigator within the healthcare setting?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Language:

• Spanish (Preferred)
• Portugese (Preferred)

Work Location: In person