On-Call Patient Navigator

Central City Concern•Portland, OR

6d•$25 - $32•Onsite

About The Position

The On-Call Patient Navigator is a fill-in member of a multidisciplinary team serving patients enrolled in Central City Concern’s Recuperative Care Program (RCP). The program provides emergency housing, primary care, and intensive case management to people experiencing homelessness who have medical support needs, in partnership with Portland-area hospitals and clinics and CCC’s patient-centered medical home. The Navigator supports patients throughout their RCP stay by orienting and engaging with them, coordinating resources and medical services, and helping address acute and ongoing care needs. The role includes crisis management and referrals for substance use, physical health, and mental health treatment, assistance accessing benefits and entitlements, and support identifying affordable housing as part of efforts toward stability and self-sufficiency. The Navigator provides coverage for the primary staff member managing a participant caseload and helps address individual medical, behavioral health, and housing needs. The population served includes people experiencing chronic homelessness, often alongside substance use and mental health support needs and acute or chronic medical conditions. This is an on-call, variable-schedule position, Monday through Sunday, with a strong preference for night-shift availability. The graveyard shift is 12:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The position is located at Evergreen Crossing/Recuperative Care Building in Portland, Oregon. Compensation is $24.52–$31.88 per hour, with an additional $1.75 per hour for eligible hours worked between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., subject to the stated shift eligibility conditions.

Requirements

At least one year of experience working in a pre-hospital or post-hospital setting, with education and experience sufficient to carry out the role’s responsibilities and demonstrate the described skills and abilities. Relevant experience may include medical case management or care coordination, social work, counseling, behavioral health, other social services, emergency medical technician work, medical support staff, or nursing.
Current CPR certification before the start date.
Understanding of the causes and medical and psychosocial effects of homelessness, and of systems and processes that help clients secure and maintain stable housing.
High tolerance for ambiguity and change.
Ability to relate to patients who are substance-affected, experiencing acute mental health issues, or have poor hygiene.
Working knowledge of medical terminology and ability to be trained in electronic health records.
Non-violent de-escalation training, or completion within 90 days of hire.
If driving, a current driver’s license, a passing DMV background check, and acceptable-driver designation under CCC’s Fleet Safety Policy; approved drivers must pass initial driver training within 60 days and complete continuing recertification training.
Ability to carry an agency-provided cell phone for work use.
Ability to comply with CCC’s drug-free workplace policy.
Excellent reading and comprehension skills.
Availability to work weekends and/or holidays and on-call hours when necessary.
Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
Ability, generally with reasonable or no accommodation, to walk, bend, stoop, kneel, squat, twist, reach, pull, lift up to 50 pounds, and climb stairs.
Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen, TB test, and background check, including DHS Background Check Unit clearance and ability to obtain an ID badge at partner hospitals.
Adherence to agency non-discrimination policies and ability to interact respectfully and with dignity with people of diverse ethnic, religious, political, cultural, lifestyle, and sexual-orientation backgrounds.
Ability to consider impacts and outcomes for underserved communities and account for systems of oppression, structural racism, and individual bias in decision-making.
Ability to work as a flexible team member and relate effectively to RCP patients.
Ability to address workplace conflict constructively.
Critical thinking, problem-solving, and sound judgment in emotionally challenging situations.
Clear, concise oral and written communication; time-management skills and ability to meet deadlines.
Ability to communicate courteously and effectively with the public, tenants/patients, medical personnel, corrections personnel, police, merchants, and coworkers.
Ability to build and maintain positive working relationships with program staff, hospital partners, health service providers, and community resources.
Ability to maintain accurate records and paperwork, learn and apply training, perform simple arithmetic, and maintain strict patient confidentiality.
Ability to maintain a calm, professional demeanor and make independent judgments.
Ability to transport patients in a company vehicle.
Ability to handle emergency or violent situations with skill, confidence, and tact.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a healthcare-related field preferred.
Relevant lived experience is encouraged.

Responsibilities

Fill in for regular Recuperative Care staff based on program capacity, staffing, and task needs.
Coordinate acute and ongoing medical care for current RCP patients under the program’s medical direction and in conjunction with RCP staff.
Serve as the primary contact for internal and external care coordination and resource linkage for patients on the caseload.
Help patients obtain prescribed medications and support plans for self-administration as prescribed.
Conduct welfare checks and charting for RCP patients.
Review hospital charts and internal medical records, obtain patient releases for collateral information, create patient charts, and update electronic medical records promptly with interactions, appointments, and encounters.
Participate in interdisciplinary case collaboration and regular caseload reviews with the RN Complex Care Manager.
Develop, implement, and maintain case plans as needed for patients upon admission, in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team.
Support coordination with primary care, specialty medical providers, and other health service providers when health concerns are raised or observed.
Identify, create, and implement behavioral interventions when appropriate with the interdisciplinary team and Integrative Care Manager.
Coordinate medical and behavioral health services as care plans develop and as directed through the medical support structure.
De-escalate heightened situations involving trauma, exacerbated mental health symptoms, and behavioral complexity.
Identify relevant housing or placement options and help patients overcome access barriers, collaborating with housing specialists and other resources.
Follow Recuperative Care policies and procedures and apply trauma-informed care and harm-reduction principles.
Respond to emergency medical situations as needed and complete pre-hospital care and incident reports when necessary.
Provide or arrange transportation to program-related appointments, interviews, hospitals, and clinics; transport clients when approved as a CCC driver.
Screen patient referrals by phone or at partner hospitals.
Coordinate patients’ healthcare with primary care providers and specialty healthcare services alongside RCP and CCC staff.
Attend clinical meetings and provide the team with current caseload information.
Participate in RCP team case reviews to help ensure quality care and identify and address patients’ psychological, social, and medical needs.
Participate in compliance, quality assurance, and quality improvement activities as directed.
Comply with state and federal privacy regulations, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, and CCC and partner privacy, confidentiality, and security requirements; promptly report protected-health-information or personal-identification-information breaches as specified.
Attend mandatory CCC trainings in a timely manner and perform other duties as assigned.
Supervise Recuperative Care volunteers when appropriate.