Patient Navigator, Novel Interventions in Children's Healthcare (NICH) - Monterey County

This is a Fixed Term position - 12 Months

Novel Interventions in Children's Healthcare (NICH) is a free and voluntary program at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health (SMCH) that supports patients and their families in the home and community, who are faced with managing a complex and chronic medical condition, on top of the many real and difficult circumstances that a family may already face.

The NICH Patient Navigator is a field-based position anticipated to serve SMCH patients and their families that reside in the southern regions of Santa Cruz County southward to Monterey County - Salinas Valley (Salinas, Soledad, Greenfield, King City). 

The NICH Patient Navigator will be assigned to work with eight (8) youth and their families at any given time, and offer each family 12 months of intensive support, by way of weekly in-person home/community visits, daily phone/text communication, and 24/7 real-time access for support in the event of a crisis.

Job Summary

This paragraph summarizes the general nature, level and purpose of the job.

The Patient Navigator serves as a critical member of the care team, helping patients navigate the complexities of the healthcare system. This role provides individualized support to patients and their families by coordinating care, facilitating communication between providers, and addressing barriers to treatment. The goal is to improve the patient experience, enhance health outcomes, and promote access to care throughout the continuum of services.

 Essential Functions

The essential functions listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification.  They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities.  Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.

Employees must abide by all Joint Commission Requirements including but not limited to sensitivity to cultural diversity, patient care, patient rights and ethical treatment, safety and security of physical environments, emergency management, teamwork, respect for others, participation in ongoing education and training, communication and adherence to safety and quality programs, sustaining compliance with National Patient Safety Goals, and licensure and health screenings.

Must perform all duties and responsibilities in accordance with the hospital’s policies and procedures, including its Service Standards and its Code of Conduct.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for patients requiring assistance navigating care plans, appointments, and hospital services.

• Coordinate scheduling of appointments, follows ups, and diagnostic testing, ensuring continuity of care.

• Educate patients on their diagnosis, treatment options, and the care process using plain language and culturally sensitive communication.

• Identify and address barriers to care such as transportation, financial challenges, language needs or lack of social support.

• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, social workers, case managers and community resources to support parent's holistic
  needs.

• Track patient progress and provide regular follow up to ensure care milestones are met.

• Advocate on behalf of patients to ensure they receive timely, appropriate care and understand their treatment journey.

• Maintain accurate documentation of patient interactions and interventions in electronic health record.

• Participate in quality improvement and patient experience initiatives.

• Independently manage a dynamic work schedule and intensive caseload of patients and their families.

• Travel to patients and families at multiple locations.

• Participates in rotating 24/7 coverage of services.