Position Title: Wound Care Navigator
Reporting To: Wound Care NP/ Manager
Department: Medical Services Department
Status: Part Time Position
Organizational Overview: Prevention Point Philadelphia (PPP) is a multi-service public health organization dedicated to protecting the health and welfare of people who use substances, do sex work, are unsheltered, and are uninsured. PPP works to provide safe and humane alternatives to the war on drugs, working to reduce the prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis C by linking people to survival resources as well as the physical and behavioral health resources they need. PPP meets people where they are, providing information and access to resources with dignity and respect. Using a harm reduction approach, PPP offers low-threshold, culturally sensitive, non-judgmental services to address the health and social service needs of people in Philadelphia. PPP promotes harm reduction through fixed building and mobile medical care, sterile syringe exchange, referrals to social services, and comprehensive prevention case management services.
Program Overview: PPP is actively strengthening, bundling, and diversifying its medical services to ensure that all individuals needing medical treatment at PPP can access medical care within all programs in the organization, receive a range of high quality on-site as well as external medical treatment, and collaborate with external medical resources and partners. Strategic goals for the Medical Services Department over the next 2-5 years include strengthening and implementing a One Stop Shop approach to treatment and prevention for People Who Use Drugs, particularly People Who Inject Drugs, and, most critically, People Living with HIV / AIDS, to scale up a Red-Carpet approach to low barrier high quality access to medical care.
The Navigator assists in operating PPP nurse-led Wound Care Clinic’s day-to-day activities providing wound care and antibiotic screenings for community members presenting with skin and soft tissues, injuries and injections. The Navigator works alongside clinical staff, the drop-in, and the SSP team to conduct street outreach with unsheltered and SUD-affected populations, coordinate clinic intake, provide preliminary case management assessment, manage longitudinal patient care, and navigate between other services offered at Prevention Point.
Position Duties and Responsibilities:
· Directly link and escort individuals with wound care needs to wound care services.
· Work closely with all services at PPP to accept referrals from individuals interested in on-site wound care or wound care management.
· Collaborate patient check in / registration for Wound Care patients with Medical Reception.
· Check and update information at each encounter including insurance verification in patient’s Athena chart.
· Coordinate with Benefits Advocate to provide state benefit enrollment for Medical Assistance for wound care participants.
· Consistently monitor Wound Care Clinic patient roster to identify individuals that need insurance or that would benefit from insurance counseling and provide relevant support to select preferred in network MCO.
· Prepare brief, standardized description of what wound care services are available at PPP to individuals offered care or who ask about care.
· Provide wound care program information upon request.
· Assemble and distribute specialized wound care kits for participants when needed.
· Routinize patient connection to other PPP services, including case management, HIV & HEP C testing, Medical Case Management, Mail, SSP, Level of Care Assessment Team, and STEP.
· Document and track all offers of wound care that result in connection to and treatment of wounds.
· Participate in training on navigation, induction protocols, complex care, EMR, and other learning opportunities as provided and requested.
· Document WC navigation services, referrals, resources provided to patients in Athena as appropriate.
· Participate in weekly or bi-weekly program evaluation team meetings to coordinate across wound care team.
· Address upset patients in a professional and compassionate manner and de-escalate as needed.
· Help monitor and manage long wait times in medical reception.
· Maintain up to date consents required for HIPAA and PHI regulations.
· Safeguard patient privacy and confidentiality
· Other duties as assigned by management.
Minimum Qualifications and Preferred Skills:
· Comprehensive knowledge of individual PPP programs and staff, especially medical services, and providers.
· Must be a pro-active, self-starter and able to work autonomously but also accept supervision and feedback regarding growth.
· Excellent communication skills, interpersonal skills and ability to problem solve complex situations.
· Dynamic, creative, flexible, and able to learn from and adapt to program changes.
· Organized and strong attention to detail.
· Knowledge of and experience working with persons experiencing homelessness, substance use, and mental health issues
· Ability to work collaboratively across teams to deliver high quality services with a health equity perspective with the goal of eliminating health disparities.
· Commitment to a harm reduction philosophy including meeting people where they are and creating a safe, non-judgmental environment.
· Trained to implement crisis de-escalation, overdose reversal, and mental health emergency protocols.
Other requirements:
· Must consistently be present in the medical reception / wound care area during clinic hours.
· The position will require standing and walking short distances, up to 6-8 hours per day.
· Job Type: Part time (up to 24 hours weekly)
· Work Location: In person
The statements contained herein describe the scope of responsibility and essential functions of this position but should not be an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties assigned including work in other areas to cover absences or relief to equalize peak work periods or otherwise balance the workload.
PPP is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
I certify that I have read this description and understand my duties and responsibilities as stated herein. I further understand that this job description does not, in any way constitute a contract for continued employment.
Pay: $18.00 - $22.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
