Community Resource Navigator-Community Health Worker-Kidney Care

Job Description Summary

The Community Resource Navigator: Community Health Worker - Kidney Care reports to the Community Navigation Manager within MUSC’s Population Health Department, and is responsible for outreach to patients, providers and community-based organizations, screening for and coordinating social care for under-resourced Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients from diverse backgrounds.  The Navigator collaborates with the Kidney RN Coordinator, care team, healthcare professionals and community-based organizations to address socio-economic barriers to health for CKD patients who have unmet social, medical, and behavioral needs.

Entity

Medical University Hospital Authority (MUHA)

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type​

Regular

Cost Center

CC005450 SYS - Pop Health CHW

Pay Rate Type

Salary

Pay Grade

Health-23

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Work Shift

Job Description

The Community Resource Navigator: Community Health Worker - Kidney Care reports to the Community Navigation Manager within MUSC’s Population Health Department, and is responsible for outreach to patients, providers and community-based organizations, screening for and coordinating social care for under-resourced Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients from diverse backgrounds.  The Navigator collaborates with the Kidney RN Coordinator, care team, healthcare professionals and community-based organizations to address socio-economic barriers to health for CKD patients who have unmet social, medical, and behavioral needs.  The Navigator serves as a patient advocate and builds strong relationships with both patients and community-based organizations. This position provides education and information about available resources in the community and facilitates assistance or interventions for patients between care visits.  The Navigator completes assessments and program enrollment forms for high-risk CKD patients, gathers information, validates, and utilizes data from the electronic medical record, social determinants of health screening tools, social care electronic platforms and other identified tools, and contributes to system data analysis efforts to improve and inform response to social determinants of health gaps and community-based organization connection rates.  In collaboration with the Kidney RN Coordinator, the Navigator oversees the operations, accounts, and balances of the Nourish to Flourish Food Pantry within the Nephrology clinic to include summarizing expenditures, preparing balance sheets, and making recommendations. Collaborates with identified business partners to ensure appropriate funds flow and accounts monitoring. The Navigator inputs data such as contacts, screening results, notes and referrals into electronic platforms and other data capturing tools as needed. The Navigator interacts with patients in person in the Nephrology Clinics, telephonically or electronically to schedule assessments, provide outreach and support, and conduct additional screenings. The Navigator will work within a hybrid model, onsite, in the community and remotely.

Responsibilities:

      

1.           Collaborates with patients, family members/caregivers, healthcare professionals and community-based organizations to address social care needs and socio-economic barriers to health

2.            Conducts screening and assessments to identify appropriate resources for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with their unmet social, medical, and behavioral needs and facilitates assistance or interventions between care visits

3.            Provides education and information about available community resources and services to CKD patients and family members/caregivers

4.            Builds relationships with CKD patients and community-based organizations and follows up to close the loop and ensure needed services are received

5.            Assists with social care program enrollment forms and applications for high-risk CKD patients and follows up to close the loop and ensure needed services are received

6.            Gathers information, documents, and enters data into the electronic medical record, social care electronic platforms and other identified tools and contributes to data analysis  

7.            Summarizes progress to leadership team on a regular basis to keep them aware of the success and to engage them in quality initiative/improvement process

8.         Provides oversight of operations, accounts, and balances of the Nourish to Flourish Food Pantry to include summarizing expenditures, preparing balance sheets, and making recommendations. Collaborates with identified business partners to ensure appropriate funds flow and accounts monitoring.

Requirements (Education, Work Experience, Licensure, Registry and/or Certifications, and a plus if Bilingual - Spanish speaking/preferred)    

• Bachelors degree in public/community health/social work

OR

• Associate degree in public/community health or healthcare related field with a minimum of one (1) year of experience in a directly related field or working in a community-based setting including paid or volunteer activity with a non-profit organization, church, healthcare organization, neighborhood community center, or other relevant community-based involvement.
• Completion of SCCHW Certification within (1) year of hire: https://www.scchwa.org/credentialing-information-learners and/or other Community Health Worker training course.
• Valid driver’s license, an acceptable 3-year motor vehicle as defined by the Acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) Chart, and a certificate of auto-insurance.

AND

Good organizational and time-management skills

Ability to work independently with accountability and exercise sound judgment, discretion and professionalism at all times.

Available to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Ability to travel and independently meet with patients in the clinic, home or community-based setting.

Physical Requirements 

Ability to perform job functions while standing. (Continuous) Ability to perform job functions while sitting. (Continuous) Ability to walk. (Frequent) Ability to climb stairs. (Infrequent) Ability to work indoors. (Continuous) Ability to work outside in temperature extremes. (Infrequent) Ability to kneel. (Infrequent) Ability to bend at the waist. (Infrequent) Ability to twist at the waist. (Infrequent) Ability to squat. (Infrequent) Ability to reach. (Frequent) Ability to lift/carry 15 lbs. unassisted. (Frequent) Ability to lift/lower objects 15 lbs. from/to floor from/to 36 inches unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to lift from 36 inches to overhead 15 lbs. unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to move objects from floor level to 36 inches height weighing to 15 lbs. unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to move from height of 36" to floor objects weighing to 15 lbs. unassisted. (Infrequent) Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand or at a distance. (Continuous) Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception. (Continuous) Ability to see and recognize objects at a distance. (Continuous) Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction. (Continuous) Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements. (Continuous) Ability to work in a latex safe environment. (Continuous) Ability to be qualified physically for respirator use, initially and as required. (Continuous)

Additional Job Description

Education: Associate degree or Equivalent Work Experience: 1 year

If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!

The Medical University of South Carolina is an Equal Opportunity Employer. MUSC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or belief, age, sex, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected veteran status, family or parental status, or any other status protected by state laws and/or federal regulations. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment based upon applicable qualifications, merit and business need.

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