Cancer Patient Advocate Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Mass General Brigham strives to advance health equity, improve health outcomes, and promote well-being of our primary care patients by addressing health-related social needs, system navigation, and care coordination as standard of care. Patient Navigators are an integral part of achieving these goals.
Patient Navigators play a pivotal role in facilitating access to cancer screening services for the patients we serve. By building trust with their patients, Patient Navigators help patients improve access to healthcare. Patient Navigators have the skills and experience to understand their patients' circumstances. By walking alongside their patients, Patient Navigators help to address medical and psychosocial needs in order to promote self-efficacy, help patients meet their goals, and improve health outcomes.
Patient Navigators use their unique skills (motivational interviewing, trauma sensitive care, coaching, etc.) to help patients manage their chronic diseases, complete preventative health screenings, adhere to medications, connect to community resources and gain strength and confidence in managing their own health. In addition, Patient Navigators will work with patients to help decrease barriers to timely preventative and follow-up care in the midst of challenging social, environmental and economic situations. The Patient Navigator will aid patients in the coordination and completion of appointments inside and outside of MGB. Patient Navigators will work with patients to alleviate social determinants of health as well as improving their overall health and well-being. While the Patient Navigator is not a clinical position, it requires a good knowledge (ability to learn) of basic clinical concepts and an understanding of when a referral to a licensed clinician is appropriate.
Principle Duties and Responsibilities
* Serve as an advocate for patients, assisting them in navigating the healthcare system and overcoming logistical, financial, and emotional barriers to cancer screening.
*Address medical and psychosocial challenges, often by guiding to appropriate health-system or community-based services.
*Complete assessments with the patient and provider to pinpoint areas for intervention.
*Build trust, identify barriers, and collaborate with patients and providers on setting and achieving health goals.
*Provide education to patients about the importance of cancer screening, including risk factors, recommended screening guidelines, available screening methods, and potential benefits.
*Deliver culturally sensitive education and guidance, assisting patients in self-care management.
*Address logistical barriers and schedule complications that prevent a patient from showing up for appointments.
*Support patients in organizing records, attending screenings, diagnostic tests, and manage follow-up appointments.
*Conduct regular visits with patients at home or in a community setting to assess home barriers or follow-up on patient care, as needed.
*Accompany patients to appointments to provide support and advocacy.
*Educate patients on health preparations, refer to case management services, and advocate for access to programs.
*Advocate for and support patient access to community-based and hospital-based programs.
*Foster relationships with appointment schedulers, collaborate with interpreters to reach patients of other languages.
*Collaborate and maintain regular communication with primary care providers both within and outside the MGB system
*Document patient encounters, track progress and goal completion.
*Generate mid-year and end-of-year reports, compiling data and providing case examples.
*Maintain a workqueue of patients that require follow-up and multiple touchpoints leading to successful screening completion

Education

• High school degree or GED required. BA/BS in Psychology/Social Work/Education/Public Health or related field preferred.

Experience

• Social work, case management or related field preferably in a clinical setting 1-2 years preferred
• Experience working in a patient facing role such as a patient navigator or community health worker or other related role preferred.
• Strong commitment to social justice, health equity, and positively impacting the care of at-risk patients.
• Experience working in a healthcare environment
• Proficiency in other language(s) strongly preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of healthcare resources, community services, and patient advocacy.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with healthcare professionals across multiple disciplines and experiences.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Familiarity with electronic health records and case management software.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and provide advocacy for racial and ethnically diverse populations and communities.
• Ability to develop effective relationships with a broad array of people from diverse backgrounds, including patients, families, clinicians and other leaders.
• Ability to interview patients using interactive techniques (e.g. motivational interviewing, active listening) to identify potential barriers to care
• Be flexible, sensitive and ready to adapt to changes in patients' needs and or their willingness to participate in their health care, including undergoing the screening process
• Ability to work both independently and as a team member in multicultural settings.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Highly organized, proactive and attentive to details.
• Proficient in all Microsoft Applications, including MS Office and Excel.

• Must have reliable transportation as travel is required
• Need to be able to work from home, in the community and in the office.
• Some weekend and evening hours are required
• Ability to work across different sites as needed