Patient Care Navigator Neuro-Oncology (1.0 FTE)

Billings Clinic•Billings, MT

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Patient Care Navigator Neuro-Oncology will act as an advocate for patients, serving as the primary point of contact and coordinating the care and services for identified patient populations across the continuum of care for outpatient services. This role promotes effective resource utilization and assumes a leadership role with the multidisciplinary team to achieve optimal clinical outcomes. Operational aspects include schedule coordination, follow-up communication with patients, outside care facilities, and referring providers, as well as documentation and record maintenance for accreditation and continued care needs. The goal is to supply an exceptional patient and family entry and journey through the healthcare system, helping providers by coordinating patient visits, provision of proper records, and aiding in coordinating supplementary service visits. Navigation ideally begins before the first visit, continues through the initial phases of consultation and care plan generation, and often during therapy. The navigator serves as a point of contact for patient or family questions, concerns, or confusion, arranging patient-centered cancer care through interdepartmental team leadership. The oncology nurse navigator will provide effective communication to patients and families regarding disease process, treatment plan review, and next steps in care, translating medical terminology into understandable information. Ancillary services such as social work, palliative care, financial counseling, dietetics, and support groups will be discussed and encouraged. Coordination of care ensures timely access to cancer care by addressing patient barriers and providing interventions.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing, required.
Two (2) years clinical practice experience, required.
One (1) year demonstrated computer experience dealing with word processing and data management.
Healthcare Provider CPR certification, at hire.
Current Montana/Wyoming RN license at hire.

Nice To Haves

4 Year / Bachelors Degree, preferred.
BSN required for candidates with fewer then 5 years of registered nursing experience.
5 years of Oncology experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Supports and models behaviors consistent with the mission and philosophy of Billings Clinic and department/service.
Facilitates the coordination of patient care services to assure excellence in patient care and patient flow; includes coordinating care, treatment and communication among the medical team.
Follows patient through the care continuum/experience, eliminating operational (such as scheduling, test results, etc.) barriers to services.
Works closely with other healthcare disciplines to ensure timely appointments, results reporting, financial need referrals, communication, patient care and follow-up.
Coordination of care: The oncology nurse navigator will receive referral for cancer patients from outside providers, departments in the Billings Clinic and faxed referrals.
The nurse navigator will then start the process of obtaining records if applicable. This includes but not limited to provider notes, labs, pathology report, imaging report and imaging.
After patient records are obtained in a prompt matter; the nurse will start the process of scheduling the patient with proper provider and multidisciplinary team in the clinic. The nurse will notify cancer research team of patient.
The nurse navigator will contact the patient/caregiver within one business day of scheduling patient. The navigator will supply education on the rationale of the multidisciplinary team/appointments and need for further imaging or testing. Location, date, and time will be provided to the patient. Appointment notification will be mailed to home address, along with navigator business card. The navigator will explain the role and supply contact information to the patient/caregivers.
The nurse navigators will attend patient first consult in medical and radiation oncology. Navigation may be present in multidisciplinary appointments inside the Billings Clinic.
Nurse navigation schedule further appointments, imaging, lab draw, etc. as directed by providers. These appointments will be communicated to the patient/caregiver's day of and or within one business day.
Nurse navigation will notify/schedule patient with supplementary appointments, such as symptom management team, oncology social workers, physical therapists, dietician, breast boutique, financial counselors, oral oncology pharmacist, site specific and/or general tumor board.
When patient presents for the first consults the nurse navigator will provide patient/family with Billings Clinic Cancer Center resources, contact numbers for staff, education resources on cancer, staging, treatment from reputable sources. (NCCN, ACOS, ACS)
The nurse navigator will supply education to the patient. Navigation will assess patient education needs by assessing barriers to care (literacy, language, cultural influences, and comorbidities). Resources will be offered such as web, printed materials, and verbal education.
The nurse navigator will supply and reinforce education to the patient, families, and caregivers about diagnosis, treatment, post treatment care and survivorship. (Treatment summary when applicable.)
The nurse navigator will schedule patient for their first treatment, they will provide calendars to the patient and review times, dates, and providers with them to expedite the plan of care and continuity of care.
The nurse navigator will schedule patients for follow up in the cancer center when actively navigating patient.
The nurse navigator will provide anticipatory guidance and manage expectations to aid patient/caregivers/families in coping with cancer diagnosis, potential or expected outcomes.
The nurse navigator will support a smooth transition of patients from active/initial treatment into survivorship, chronic cancer management or end of life care.
Facilitates the development, implementation and adherence to clinical and evidenced based guidelines, as appropriate, to ensure optimal clinical outcomes.
Ensures follow-up on identified patient clinical and non-clinical care, facilitating communication and compliance to care plans (i.e., medication reconciliation, follow-up on care concerns/critical values/core measures, patient care conferences, etc.).
Ensures follow up has occurred regarding patient clinical and non clinical care to include adherence to plans of care, resource utilization, and general progress utilizing care conferences as necessary.
Works in collaboration with the medical team to develop and implement clinical guidelines. Facilitates the adherence of the guidelines through regular evaluation and auditing of clinical practice.
Works with care team to assure direct care needs are met, assisting as needed or assigned.
Ensures follow-up in the outpatient setting on identified patient clinical and non-clinical care, facilitating communication and compliance to care plans (i.e., medication reconciliation, follow-up on care concerns/critical values/core measures, patient care conferences, etc.).
Demonstrates expertise in educational and resourcing services.
Participates in educational activities related to patient/community, clinical operation and process issues on an ongoing basis.
Collaborates with other health care providers in developing, implementing and evaluating educational materials for patients and their families.
Facilitates intra-departmental relationships in an effort to provide necessary resources to and for the patient.
Interfaces with other members/disciplines within the healthcare teams for appropriate referrals/services.
Aware of and assists with financial needs of the patients.
Identify and access appropriate social services, including resources to assist caregivers to support treatment.
Contributes to an environment of quality and process improvement.
Ensures accurate and timely data collection and entry into patient database as indicated by department guidelines.
Directs and coordinates identified quality assessment and improvement activities to assure quality patient services are monthly provided through audits and reviews other identified evaluation tools.
Ensures patient care activities for the department services are monitored monthly through audits and reviews.
Ensures and enhances facility, safety, and regulatory outcomes.
Works in collaboration with Leadership team to ensure departmental goals and objectives are met. Contributes to community activities sponsored by the Cancer Center.
Develops patient referral services by relationship-building strategies with physicians not related to the department.
Performs other duties as assigned or needed to meet the needs of the department/organization.
Works as an active team member and effective communicator.
Demonstrates effective internal and external communication strategies, written and verbal, to assure a collaborative environment.
Ensures appropriate and timely documentation in the EHR.
Demonstrates a productive work ethic.
Works consistently as an active team player, inter-and intra-departmentally.
Identifies needs and sets goals for own growth and development; meets all mandatory organizational and departmental requirements.
Maintains competency in all organizational, departmental and outside agency environmental, employee or patient safety standards relevant to job performance.
Identification and assistance for patients in potential benefit for genetic testing evaluation.
Organization and record maintenance of appropriate record needs required for accreditation purposes.
Performs other duties as assigned or needed to meet the needs of the department/organization.