Care Navigator- Neurosurgery

UHS•Washington, DC

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Care Navigator-Neurosurgery provides professional coordination of care for neurosurgical patients and serves as the primary liaison between GW Hospital and Capital Medical Group. The Navigator guides patients through every phase of their neurosurgical care, from the initial outpatient clinic visit through surgery and post-operative follow-up. The Care Navigator works closely with neurosurgeons, advanced practice providers, and hospital departments, including Radiology, the Operating Room, Scheduling, and the Pain and Rehabilitation team, so that care is timely, coordinated, and patient-centered. The Coordinator also manages In Basket communications, schedules appointments, provides pre-operative education, and follows up with patients to support safe, seamless transitions of care.

Requirements

Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in a health care related field required.
Minimum of two (2) years of experience in patient care coordination, navigation, or a clinical health care setting required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in nursing, health sciences, or a related field preferred.
Experience in neurosurgery, neurology, pain management, rehabilitation, or a surgical specialty preferred.
Recent hospital or outpatient specialty clinic experience preferred.
Experience with electronic health records, including In Basket management (e.g., Epic), preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary liaison between GW Hospital and Capital Medical Group, keeping communication and workflows clear across both organizations.
Act as the main point of contact and resource for neurosurgical patients and their families throughout the care continuum.
Communicate with outside hospitals and referring neurosurgeons (locally, nationally, and internationally) regarding patients referred to Neurosurgery, including obtaining medical records and imaging, coordinating transfers and appointments, and keeping referring physicians informed of the plan of care.
Coordinate care with hospital departments, including Radiology, the OR team, inpatient units, and Central Scheduling, so that imaging, surgical dates, and procedures happen on time.
Book and coordinate outpatient appointments, diagnostic imaging, pre-operative visits, surgical cases, and post-operative follow-ups as needed.
Coordinate with the Scheduling and OR teams to arrange surgical dates and communicate changes to patients promptly.
Work with neurosurgeons and clinical staff to make sure pre-operative testing, clearances, and authorizations are complete before surgery.
Give pre-operative instructions and education during outpatient clinic visits, including what to expect before, during, and after surgery.
Work with the Pain and Rehabilitation team, a service line within Neurosurgery, to guide patients through their pain management and rehabilitation care. This includes coordinating referrals, procedures, therapy appointments, and follow-up and making sure care stays connected with the surgical plan.
Follow up with patients after appointments, procedures, and hospital discharge to confirm understanding, support adherence to care plans, and identify any unmet needs.
Help patients access supporting services such as financial counseling, pain management, physical therapy, rehabilitation, social services, and home health, as appropriate.
Manage the manage Neurosurgery and Pain Management in baskets triaging and routing patient messages, results, referrals, and requests to the appropriate provider or team member promptly.
Handle all messages according to department protocols, documenting accurately and closing each communication loop.
Maintain professional, timely, and courteous communication with patients, providers, and outside facilities.
Resolve barriers to care and escalate concerns to the appropriate provider or department when needed.