Patient Health Navigator

For more than 55 years, Family Health Centers of San Diego’s (FHCSD) mission has been to provide caring, affordable, high-quality health care and supportive services to everyone, with a special commitment to uninsured, low-income and medically underserved persons.

FHCSD is one of the top 10 largest federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in the country. We operate more than 90 sites across San Diego County, including 29 primary care clinics, 23 behavioral health facilities, 10 physical rehabilitation clinics, nine dental clinics, five vision clinics, four outpatient substance use treatment programs, three mobile medical units, two mobile counseling centers, two urgent care centers, and a pharmacy.

Our staff provides care to over 227,000 patients each year, of whom 91% are low-income and 29% are uninsured. FHCSD provides care to all. Services include, but are not limited to adult care, chronic disease management, pediatrics, comprehensive women’s care including obstetrics, dental, vision, case management, physical rehabilitation, speech therapy for children, vaccinations, infectious diseases, behavioral health, substance use counseling and a host of specialty services including cardiology, podiatry, endocrinology, dermatology, among others.  FHCSD also offers supportive services to those who are unsheltered and in need of intensive case management.   

The breadth of our clinic locations, services and programs has grown over the last five decades, making us the largest community clinic provider of health care to the uninsured in the county and one of the top 10 largest community clinic organizations in the nation. We are also the largest health care safety-net provider, largest school-based health care provider and the largest mental health provider in the San Diego region.

Family Health Centers of San Diego is looking for a Patient Health Navigator to work under supervision, providing direct and indirect patient/client navigation services to support linkage and maintenance in care, including completion of internal and external referrals, for the assigned program(s). Duties may vary depending on specific assignment, but in addition to direct patient/client interaction, may include participation in quality improvement projects, retention efforts, or delivery of enabling services. Collaborates with a multi-disciplinary team and deals with a diverse group of customers, patients, and visitors, as well as internal contacts at all levels of the organization. May have assigned caseload of patients/clients. Engages in team approach to patient/client care.

Responsibilities:

• Assists each Patient in assessing potential barriers to care and through identifying and supporting steps to overcome these barriers. •
• Provide helpful assistance in anticipating and responding to the needs of all Patients and family members.
• Manage templates for day to day Patient schedules, edits and reschedules.
• Verify and update Patient demographics as needed to ensure UpToDate information in EMR.
• Completes all required documentation and reports accurately, in a timely manner, and thoroughly in accordance with department standards.
• Work closely with medical provider to assist with completion of prior authorization and Patient Assistance Program requests.
• Serves as a liaison between internal and external customers, including patients/clients, other FHCSD service staff and other service providers, for the purpose of improving patient/client quality of care and flow.
• Completes all required documentation accurately, in a timely manner, and thoroughly in accordance with department standards; in addition, documentation complies with all grant funder and patients/clients' insurance requirements.
• Works in collaboration with all members of the healthcare and departmental program on retention, appointment completion, and identifying barriers to care (e.g., quality improvement projects, Case Reviews, etc.).
• Engages in patient/client interactions via telephone and in person to identify and meet patient/client needs, including facilitation of assisted and unassisted referrals, resources, and follow-up, depending on presenting needs.
• Assists with scheduling, organizing, and managing a patient/client’s healthcare maintenance and treatment.
• Performs general clerical tasks, as assigned, which may include filing, processing paperwork, data entry, scanning/photocopying, agenda creation and minutes, encounter reports, scheduling, and similar tasks.
• Uses discretion during all interactions to answer both routine and complicated questions, forwards issues to appropriate person. Handles confidential and routine information.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• High School diploma (or GED equivalent) required.
• 2 years of experience with health education or working in the medical/health related field preferred.
• Or equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the skills, knowledge, and ability to perform the essential job duties, and which meets any required state or federal certification requirements
• Ability and means to travel as needed in a timely manner within San Diego County. DRIVER REQUIREMENTS: Requires an active Class C California driver's license, proof of liability insurance at $100,000, on vehicle used. No more than 2 points in past 12 months; No suspensions in last 2 years for moving violations; No DUI, reckless or felony Driving within 5 years. No license revocation in 7 years.
• Specific Certifications may be required or preferred depending on assignment (i.e.: CA HIV Test Counselor, limited CPT certification for waived testing, etc.)
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) may be required depending on assignment.

Rewards:

• Job type: Regular Full Time
• Competitive Salary with Excellent Benefits
• Retirement Plan with Employer Match
• Paid Time Off, Extended Sick Leave and Paid Holidays
• Medical/Dental/Vision/FSA/Life Insurance
• Employee Discounts and Wellness Programs

The successful candidate will have a demonstrated commitment to community medicine and providing culturally competent care to the medically underserved.

We are excited to share that the salary range for this position is:

$22.00 - $27.74

Information on our extensive benefits package can be found here: FHCSD Wellness – Employee Hub (gobenefits.net)

FHCSD provides Equal Employment Opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, transfer, leave of absence, compensation, and training.