Community Health Navigator - Medical Assistant

GENERAL JOB DESCRIPTION

Ascension DePaul Services of New Orleans (DCSNO) affiliates with DCHC which manages multiple Federally Qualified Health Center locations in the Greater New Orleans area.  DCSNO is committed to improving the health status of communities and continues a long tradition of health ministry.  DCSNO is seeking full-time, hourly Community Health Navigator - Medical Assistant. 

The Community Health Navigator - Medical Assistant is a dual role, this candidate will act as coordinators and liaisons between the patient and/or community member, with gaps in care including healthcare and other Social Determinants of Health services within the community. The goal is to improve wellness and autonomy for individuals served, both from the DCSNO/DCHC patient population and the general community.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Employee may be assigned to work with a variation of people.

• Responsible for educating community members and their families about the sites and services provided within DCHC. 

• Create opportunities for and attend group community health education sessions.

• Increasing patient populations throughout our Health Centers, goals will be set and met.

• Must keep detailed up to date reports of all interactions that impact the program productivity.

• Complete intake interviews with patients, measure vital signs, record information on patient’s charts, and determine what social resources are needed to help achieve wellness and autonomy through resource software provided.

• Coordinate and provide resources to members of the communities to address social needs in a manner that is safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and client-centered.

• Consults and cooperates with community systems to facilitate linkage and referrals.

• Provide health and social services resources.

• Manage caseload assignments, draft resource plans, review case progress and determine case closure of an appropriately set number of cases while reaching or exceeding monthly case closure quota.

• Develop trust, maintain effective working relationships with social services, health, governmental agencies, the medical team, and the community throughout the entire case management process.

• Follow up with patients to keep track of their progress via the social resources, patient phone calls, and “in community” visits.

• Submit weekly reports to designated team lead that include, but are not limited to, case information, statistics, and community outreach on designated due date.

• Promote quality and cost-effective interventions and outcomes.

• Attend regular staff meetings, community events, training and other meetings as requested.

• Assist in coordination of DCHC community events and activities and log meeting details in the team shared calendar.

• Be knowledgeable of community resources and educate community members and their families about the sites and services provided within DCHCs (Outreach).

• Performs select clinical duties including patient services, certain lab procedures, maintains patient’s medical records in an orderly manner, and reports abnormal results of any service to the primary care provider as per protocol.

• Prepares treatment rooms for examination of patients including procedure room and keeps medical equipment clean, orderly, and inventoried.

• Escorts assigned patients and fully prepares the patient for the visit which includes taking vital signs, completing the Health Risk Appraisal, performing in house labs, review charts for accuracy, ensures diagnostic testing results and consultant reports are scanned in the Electronic Medical Record, review health provider orders, administer medications, perform treatments such as but not limited to breathing treatments, appropriately and accurately document the outcome of the treatment or intervention; assist health providers, consultants and patients as needed.

• Use Standard Precautions and Standard Operating Procedures (such as needle stick precautions, Lab and General Safety Manual, HIPAA, rules and regulations of DCHC) with all patients, specimens and equipment.

• Performs other duties as assigned. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Lifting, twisting, standing, bending, walking up and down stairs will occur.  Work will require some sort of physical activity to be performed. Employees will be required to travel from time to time and must be willing to work various shifts, including some nights and weekends to accommodate needs of various sites.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is normally performed within health centers and out in the community by way of indoor/outdoor community events, meetings and “in community and home” visits

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• HS diploma or equivalent, Bachelor’s Degree Preferred

• Completion of Medical Assistant Training Program

• Minimum 1 year Experience in Community Outreach or working in a multi-cultural setting  

• Medicaid Application Certified (Willing to train)

• Community Health Worker Certified (Willing to train)

• ACA Marketplace Certified (Willing to train)

• Must have personal and reliable transportation to travel locally, valid driver’s license, Minimum current liability automobile insurance required.

• Must be able to work some nights and weekends.

• Ability to develop trust and maintain positive relationships with internal teams, the community and social service agencies.

• May require certifications and further training in assisting members of the community to either enter our patient system or apply for programs of health coverage.

• Maintains a high level of ethical conduct regarding confidentiality, dual-relationships, and professional stature.

• Ability to multitask and able to work alone or within a team setting.

• Positive attitude and team influence.

• Possess Integrity and be respectful to clients, teammates, and the Mission of DCSNO

• Clear and accurate documentation and Organizational Skills.

• General computer literacy, Experience with Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office

• Excellent verbal and written communication, decision making and critical thinking skills

• Exhibit Empathy and Compassion towards others

• Seamless ability to understand and connect with the Community

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual (English/Spanish)