Patient Advocate Navigator

Novellis Health•New York, NY

10d•$26 - $30•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Advocate Navigator is the dedicated, non-clinical point of contact for patients in the Radiation Oncology and Urology departments in Brooklyn, NY. The role guides patients and families through referral, consultation, treatment and follow-up, helping reduce delays and barriers and ensuring patients feel informed, supported and heard. The Navigator tracks administrative tasks such as scheduling, prior authorizations, records, insurance and transportation, and follows up with responsible team members to ensure completion. The role identifies barriers to care—including financial, coverage, language, transportation and scheduling issues—and connects patients with financial, social and community resources. The Navigator does not provide medical advice and routes clinical questions to the appropriate nurse, medical assistant or provider. The position requires a patient-centered, compassionate approach, experience in a patient-facing healthcare role, and strong EMR and organizational skills.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
2–3 years of experience in a patient-facing healthcare role, such as patient care coordinator, patient access, front desk or patient services, including scheduling, insurance verification or prior authorizations.
Strong EMR and Microsoft Office skills.
Working knowledge of health insurance, including commercial plans, Medicare and Medicaid.
Strong follow-through, including tracking open items to completion and escalating early when an item may be delayed or missed.
Clear, compassionate communication with patients, families, providers and outside offices, including explaining complex processes in plain language.
Persistence and resourcefulness in advocating for patients and solving problems.
Strong organization and time management, with the ability to prioritize in a fast-paced, multi-provider clinic.
Attention to detail in documentation, authorizations and patient privacy.
Ability to remain calm, empathetic and professional with patients facing a serious diagnosis or high-stress situations.
Sound judgment in recognizing clinical questions and routing them to the appropriate team member.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
No clinical license or certification is required.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in Spanish or Russian (highly preferred).
Associate’s or bachelor’s degree in health administration, public health, social work or a related field.
Experience in oncology, radiation oncology, urology or another specialty practice.
Hands-on experience with Aria and/or DrChrono.
Patient navigation training or certificate.
Familiarity with financial assistance programs and community resources in Brooklyn and New York City.

Responsibilities

Serve as the main point of contact for newly diagnosed, newly referred or treatment-starting patients, guiding them from referral and consultation through simulation, treatment and follow-up.
Meet with new patients in person or by phone to explain what to expect, introduce the care team and clarify upcoming steps.
Identify barriers to care and work with patients and the care team to resolve them.
Advocate for patients’ needs and preferences with the care team and ensure concerns are heard and addressed promptly.
Connect patients and families with social work, financial counseling, copay and manufacturer assistance programs, support groups and community organizations.
Arrange interpreter services when needed.
Track administrative tasks across both departments, including referrals, authorizations, records requests, scheduling, callbacks and outside appointments, and confirm timely completion.
Identify coordination gaps such as missed follow-ups, unscheduled imaging or treatments, pending results and expired authorizations, and escalate them to appropriate staff.
Ensure required outside records, imaging reports, pathology and imaging CDs are requested and available in the chart before consultations or treatment.
Coordinate with referring physicians, hospitals, imaging centers and labs, and fax consult letters, follow-up notes and visit summaries to referring providers.
Participate in daily huddles to review schedules, outstanding tasks and patients needing follow-up or additional support.
Schedule and confirm consultations, simulations, treatments, procedures, imaging and follow-up visits, coordinating around patients’ needs and other appointments.
Request prior authorizations for imaging, procedures and treatments, and track them through approval.
Verify insurance coverage regularly, especially for patients undergoing treatment, and alert patients and staff to coverage changes early.
Help patients understand benefits, expected costs and billing questions, referring them to financial counseling or billing staff as appropriate.
Register new patients and obtain, scan and upload medical records, IDs and insurance cards into the EMR.
Keep providers informed of reschedules, no-shows and add-ons, and coordinate scheduling with the front desk.
Communicate appointment details and care-team-written pre-visit instructions, and send reminders and confirmations through Weave.
Return patient calls and messages, and promptly route clinical questions, symptoms, and medication or refill requests to the appropriate nurse, medical assistant or provider.
Coordinate transportation through patients’ insurance and/or rideshare services so patients arrive on time for visits and daily treatments.
Check in with patients during and after treatment, ensure their needs are being met and follow up on missed appointments.
Support patients and families professionally and compassionately, help resolve complaints and concerns, and escalate issues to the Practice Manager when needed.
Document patient contacts, identified barriers, resources provided and follow-up actions accurately and promptly in Aria and DrChrono.
Prepare and send medical records after receiving a signed release of information.
Protect patient privacy, follow HIPAA and practice policies, and flag issues to the Practice Manager.
Gather patient feedback and suggest improvements to navigation workflows and the patient experience.