Status Neutral Health Navigator

Valley AIDS Council is a non-profit organization delivering healthcare specialty (prevention and treatment) services and education to the residents of the Rio Grande Valley and surrounding areas.

TITLE: Status Neutral Health Navigator
REPORTS TO: Testing & Outreach Coordinator
CLASSIFICATION: Non-Exempt
EXPOSURE RISK: Category I
SUMMARY: Seeking for compassionate, responsible and mature individual to assist in providing HIV Express Testing services. This position serves as a liaison between Health Promotion & Community Engagement and the medical department. This service entails collection and processing of blood through venipuncture, rapid HIV screening, and processing extra genital self-testing samples. The navigator will assist from time to time with screening nPEP and PrEP clients who are scheduled to see a medical provider in person or through a virtual visit.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Explain process of HIV Express Testing to clients seeking service.

2. Provide individual - and relationship-based HIV and STI counseling and testing, including results delivery for point-of-care (“rapid”) and laboratory-based tests, and appropriate referral services.

3. Collection and processing of blood fluid specimens as per physician orders. Process extra genital self-collection samples. Provide HIV and STI testing as needed.

4. Day-to-day preparation of materials needed for the day if HIV INSTI tests, equipment needed for procedures, and re-stock rooms with supplies .

5. Review of all patient’s charts prior to the patient being seen by the medical provider and review patient’s case with medical team.

6. Responsible for the state issued vaccine by taking daily temperature logs, completing monthly inventory reporting, and maintaining a stock of vaccines.

7. Maintains patient’s charts updated by entering all pertinent orders, reports, and progress notes.

8. Document visits and interactions appropriately within VAC’s Electronic Health Records System (EHRS). Assist in scanning and compiling paper medical records into the EHRS..

9. Facilitate and/or provide “finger-stick” rapid HIV testing and venous blood draws (i.e. phlebotomy) for other tests.

10. Provide education about Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and other effective biomedical and prevention interventions and refer eligible, interested clients for follow-up medical care

11. Assist the Testing and Outreach Coordinator in providing the training VAC/ Westbrook Clinic workforce and revise, assist, and communicate changes and recommendations for PrEP services.

12. Design, implement, and distribute advertising and educational campaigns for PrEP to target populations in the Rio Grande Valley.

13. Coordinate and build collaborative relationships related to PrEP implementation and service delivery, focusing on agencies surrounding our target population located in and around South Texas.

14. Accurately complete all statistical data forms for PrEP, primarily within VAC’s EHRS, to ensure reimbursement from funders.

15. Maintain up-to-date and accurate knowledge of emerging scientific research regarding biomedical HIV prevention strategies, including PrEP, PEP and related interventions..

16. Must Abide by OSHA and blood borne pathogens, HIPAA regulations and confidentiality according to VAC policies.

17. Must follow all agency rules and regulations including but not limited to Employee Handbook and safety policies and programmatic.

18. Must participate in outreach activities and agency-wide events including outside normal working hours (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday).

19. Must attend departmental, organizational meetings and any mandatory trainings and other duties as required.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

High School Diploma is required. High School Diploma or GED.

Two years certificate from college and/or technical school; or twelve months of PBC ??? /intervention experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience in a health setting, non-profit and/or community service organization preferred. Knowledge of primary care and HIV medicine preferred.

Experience in community health work – CHW certification preferred.

Training, experience and certification as Medical Assistant and Phlebotomy highly desired. BLS certified.

Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, specifically Outlook, Word & Excel.

Experience with electronic medical record and medical terminology.

Working knowledge of thermometers, EKG machine, Glucometer, Defibrillator, and blood pressure machine preferred.

Reliable transportation, active driver’s license and automobile liability insurance.

Work under conditions of constant interruption and be able to stay on task and attention to detail.

Compassionate and empathetic with ability to relate to target population from all walks of life and effectively communicate with tact highly sensitive information.

Ability to participate effectively as a team member and contribute to a positive work environment.

Must work a flexible schedule as needed, extended hours and weekends.

Commitment to team approach to patient services and patient education.

Ability to speak fluent English; ability to handwrite legibly; ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals; ability to write routine reports and correspondence; ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization; ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals; ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs; ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

Bilingual (English & Spanish) preferred to effectively communicate with patient population. Flexibility to travel, from site to site, community events and occasional over-night if needed. Ability to safely operate a vehicle to travel from site to site or community events/outreach activities.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND REQUIREMENTS:
Finger Dexterity and repetitive motion: Using fingers, wrists and hands to make small movements such as typing or picking up small objects. Use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms.

Sitting, walking and standing for extended periods of time.

May have to lift folders, files, papers, audio/video equipment, and other such items weighing up to approximately 25-40 lbs with or without assistance.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand and walk for extended periods of time.

Talking: Frequently conveying detailed or important instructions or ideas accurately, clearly, or quickly.

Hearing: Able to hear average or normal conversations and receive ordinary

Vision corrected in normal range and hearing corrected in normal range to prepare or inspect documents. Focus to safely operate a vehicle.

This job description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive or as an employment agreement between the employer and employee. It is intended to identify the essential functions and requirements of this job and is subject to change as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change. Incumbents may be required to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specification.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $13.50 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• 403(b) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Evenings as needed
• Monday to Friday

Education:

• Associate (Preferred)

Experience:

• PBC/Intervention: 1 year (Preferred)
• health setting: 1 year (Preferred)

Language:

• Spanish (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)
• Medical Assistant or Phlebotomy (Preferred)

Shift availability:

• Day Shift (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Brownsville, Texas 78520 (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 25% (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $14