POSITION SUMMARY: As an Oncology Patient Navigator (OPN), you will play a crucial role in guiding patients through their cancer care journey, ensuring they receive comprehensive support beyond clinical treatment. The OPN will work closely with patients and their families to address needs, coordinate services, identifying and eliminating barriers to care, and provide valuable information about cancer care options. Your primary focus will be on enhancing the patient experience by removing barriers, facilitating access to resources, and offering compassionate support. Demonstrates compassionate and caring manner with clients in person and over the phone. Additionally, the OPN functions as a patient advocate facilitating accessibility to care and promotes optimal patient-centered care that supports and empowers individuals, respects individual choices and meets health care needs of patients.
Requirements
EDUCATION: Bachelor?s degree required, Master in Healthcare related field preferred.
CERTIFICATION/LICENSES: Oncology Patient Navigator Certification (or obtained within 2 years)
SKILLS:
Demonstrate basic knowledge of medical and cancer terminology
Demonstrate familiarity with and know-how to access and reference evidence-based information regarding cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship
Demonstrate basic knowledge of cancer, cancer treatment, and supportive care options, including risks and benefits of clinical trials and integrative therapies
Identify potential physical, psychological, social, and spiritual impacts of cancer and its treatment
Demonstrate general understanding of healthcare payment structure, financing, and where to refer patients for answers regarding insurance coverage and financial assistance
Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals
Employ active listening and remain solutions-oriented in interactions with patients, families, and members of the healthcare team
Demonstrate empathy, integrity, honesty, and compassion in difficult conversations
licensed and non-licensed professionals and act within professional boundaries
Demonstrate basic understanding of cancer, healthcare systems, and how patients access care and services across the cancer continuum to support and assist patients
Ability to coordinate various functions and activities for maximum cooperation and integration of services providers and persons receiving care within a clinic for continuum of care services
Ability to understand and implement sensitivity and culture of care measures appropriate to a diverse population
Ability to work with various levels of the CHRISTUS organization including clinical, financial, administrative and medical staff.
EXPERIENCE: Minimum of 5 years of experience in a health care setting and related experience with quality, care coordination and oncology preferred.
NATURE OF SUPERVISION:
-Responsible to: Manager, Cancer Center
ENVIRONMENT:
- Blood borne pathogens - A
Well-lighted office area. Occasional exposure to activities and infectious diseases in patient care areas.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to move around settings of care. Requires close work, good vision, dexterity to write as well as to use computer keyboard. Ability to handle stressful situations.
CHRISTUS HEALTH is an international Catholic, faith-based, not-for-profit health system comprised of almost more than 600 services and facilities, including more than 60 hospitals and long-term care facilities, 350 clinics and outpatient centers, and dozens of other health ministries and ventures. CHRISTUS operates in 6 U.S. states, Colombia, Chile and 6 states in Mexico. To support our health care ministry, CHRISTUS Health employs approximately 45,000 Associates and has more than 15,000 physicians on medical staffs who provide care and support for patients. CHRISTUS Health is listed among the top ten largest Catholic health systems in the United States.