Community Health Navigator

Mass General Brigham•Boston, MA

20h•$23 - $33•Hybrid

About The Position

The MGH Collaborative Care & Community Engagement Program is recruiting a part-time Patient Navigator to support a National Cancer Institute-funded research project. The project focuses on adapting and implementing a collaborative care model for people with serious mental illness and cancer at MGH Boston and community sites. The navigator works to increase access to patient-centered care by building trusting relationships with patients, developing connections with community-based clinicians, helping patients navigate appointments, and collaborating with hospital and community care teams around patients’ goals and needs. The role supports patients and caregivers with coordinating and completing appointments and reducing barriers to timely cancer and mental health care. Interventions may include education, appointment reminders, help with insurance, language barriers and transportation, navigating the Cancer Center, connecting patients to psychosocial or palliative care teams, addressing technology barriers, and accompanying patients to appointments or engaging with them in community settings. The navigator may also assist with research activities, including data collection and screening potential participants. This is not a clinical position, but it requires knowledge of mental health and basic clinical concepts, including cancer care, and an understanding of when referral to a licensed clinician is appropriate. The position receives close supervision from the social work and psychiatry team.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Social Work, Healthcare Management, or a related field; alternatively, five or more years of experience in community mental health may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
Knowledge of mental health and basic clinical concepts, including cancer care, and understanding of when referral to a licensed clinician is appropriate.
Strong knowledge of healthcare resources, community services, and patient advocacy.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively with healthcare professionals across multiple disciplines and experiences.
Strong organizational and time management skills.
Familiarity with electronic health records and case management software.

Nice To Haves

One to two years of experience in social work, case management, or a related field, preferably in a clinical setting.
Experience with or interest in learning about clinical research.
Spanish language skills.

Responsibilities

Advocate for patients and their families, ensuring their needs and preferences are considered in care planning.
Serve as a liaison between patients, healthcare providers, and other relevant stakeholders.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary healthcare teams and community organizations to coordinate care services, appointments, and follow-up.
Assist patients in understanding their illness and engaging in treatment.
Identify and connect patients with appropriate healthcare and community resources, including support groups, financial assistance programs, and transportation services.
Educate patients and families about medical conditions, treatment options, and self-care strategies.
Help patients become informed and empowered participants in healthcare decisions.
Maintain accurate and detailed documentation of patient interactions, care plans, and resource referrals.
Build trusting relationships with patients and relationships with community-based clinicians.
Help patients and caregivers coordinate and complete appointments and reduce barriers to timely cancer and mental health care.
Support interventions such as appointment reminders, insurance assistance, help with language barriers and transportation, Cancer Center navigation, connections to psychosocial or palliative care, and assistance with technology barriers.
Accompany patients to appointments or engage with them in community settings as needed.
Participate in research activities such as data collection and screening potential participants.