Patient Navigator

Description

Your passion belongs at UNC Health. Join more than 56,000 teammates working together to improve the health and well-being of the communities we serve across North Carolina.

Job Summary

The Sickle Cell Patient Navigator serves as a member of the multidisciplinary Sickle Cell Program, providing patient navigation, advocacy, education, and care coordination for adult patients with sickle cell disease and other hemoglobinopathies. This position supports continuity of care by identifying barriers to treatment, coordinating services across the healthcare continuum, connecting patients with appropriate resources, and promoting timely access to care, treatment adherence, and successful care transitions. Working collaboratively with physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and community partners, the navigator serves as a consistent point of contact throughout the patient's healthcare journey.

Responsibilities

• Provides individualized patient navigation, advocacy, education, and support to patients and families throughout the continuum of care.
• Assesses barriers to care, including financial, psychosocial, transportation, insurance, and healthcare access needs, and facilitates appropriate interventions and referrals.
• Coordinates appointments, referrals, diagnostic testing, follow-up care, and transitions between inpatient, outpatient, and community settings.
• Assists patients in understanding treatment plans, navigating the healthcare system, and accessing internal and community resources.
• Maintains patient tracking systems and monitors adherence to recommended clinical follow-up, laboratory testing, and treatment plans.
• Participates in ambulatory clinics to facilitate care coordination and strengthen patient engagement.
• Collaborates with multidisciplinary providers and specialty services to support comprehensive, patient-centered care planning.
• Serves as a liaison with community organizations and partner agencies to improve access to supportive services.
• Participates in quality improvement, program development, and initiatives designed to improve patient outcomes and healthcare access.
• Documents patient encounters and care coordination activities in the electronic medical record in accordance with organizational standards.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in a healthcare-related field preferred.
• If Bachelor's degree, no experience required; Associate's degree with one (1) year of relevant experience; or seven (7) years of relevant healthcare, navigation, or community health experience in lieu of advanced education.
• Experience working with individuals with chronic disease, hematology populations, or underserved communities preferred.

Licensure/Certification

• Patient Navigation certification (HPFPNI, ACS LION, or equivalent) required within within one year of hire.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of chronic disease management, care coordination, healthcare systems, and community resources.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to establish collaborative relationships with patients, families, multidisciplinary teams, and community partners.
• Demonstrated commitment to patient-centered care, cultural humility, and health equity.
• Proficiency with electronic medical records and patient tracking systems.

Legal Employer: STATE

Entity: UNC Faculty Physicians

Organization Unit: SOM Med Hematology

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Salary Range:$20.74 - $29.52 per hour (Hiring Range)

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Hybrid

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: No

This is a State position employed by UNC Health Care System with UNC Health benefits. If, however, you are presently an employee of another North Carolina agency and currently participate in TSERS or the ORP, you will be eligible to continue participating in those plans at UNC Health.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email applicant.accommodations@unchealth.unc.edu if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.