Care Navigator

AbsoluteCARE Medical Center & Pharmacy; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 34,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

AbsoluteCARE Medical Center & Pharmacy in Chicago is seeking a Care Navigator to engage admitted members in hospitals and facilities, address post-discharge needs, and ensure seamless transitions of care back home. The role focuses on building trust with discharge planners and connecting patients to AbsoluteCare services.

The position is largely onsite, requires collaboration with clinical teams, and involves coordinating follow-up visits, documenting activities, and meeting performance KPIs to

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• CNA or CHW preferred; hospital experience is a plus.
• Strong communication and documentation skills essential.

Responsibilities

• Engage in person with admitted members in hospitals and facilities.
• Identify gaps in care and elevate to clinical team when needed.
• Participate in huddles and provide member updates and handoffs.
• Coordinate post-discharge follow ups with providers and centers.
• Document all interactions accurately in the care management system.

Skills

Communication skills

Hospital experience

Care coordination

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

CNA or CHW preferred

Tools

EMR documentation

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

• Pay Range - $25.00-$27.00/hr (Full-Time)

Job Summary

The role of Care Navigator is essential in supporting our goal to reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions by visiting & engaging admitted members in person, addressing post discharge needs, and ensure seamless transitions of care discharge follow up. The Care Navigator is assigned to acute and post-acute facilities in the community and works team to build trust with patients and connect them to AbsoluteCare’s services and interventions.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Engage in person with admitted members in hospitals and healthcare facilities to engage & build lasting rapport and trust.
• Conduct CN screenings and identify gaps in care, post discharge risks, elevate to TCM or supervisor for clinical support.
• Actively participate in Huddles to provide member updates and handoffs to center or POD teams when appropriate
• Ask member or their designated support person reason they went to the hospital
• Facilitate access to member clinical information needs required by TCM or supervisor
• Complete delegated tasks and coordinate resources to address identified needs.
• Schedule and coordinate post discharge follow-up appointments with AbsoluteCare primary care physician, community-based nurse practitioner/PA based on risk level guidance
• Provide post discharge support through day 7 and elevate to TCM or Supervisor any emerging clinical needs
• Ensure member has post discharge ordered medications, DME/Oxygen/Hoe Health as ordered.
• Serve as a positive liaison between the members, healthcare providers/facilities, and AbsoluteCare care team and services.
• Document all interactions and tasks accurately and timely in AbsoluteCare care management system.
• Collaborate with AbsoluteCare’s interdisciplinary teams to support holistic, integrated, safe transitions of care to home or next level of care
• Maintain mobility and flexibility to work independently across multiple healthcare sites.
• Meet established Key Performance Indicators.
• The Care Navigator’s facility assignment may change and/or duties may be modified based on business needs.

Minimum Qualifications

• A minimum of 80% of this role’s time is spent onsite in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and/or residential treatment facilities to engage members and build relationships with facility discharge planners and case management staff.
• High School diploma or equivalent
• CNA, Certified MA- preferred, or CHW with prior hospital experience required
• CPR/BLS certification required.
• 3+ years of experience in serving the needs of complex populations, in a patient facing healthcare environment. Preference given to qualified candidates with hospital experience and/or care coordination roles.
• Experience working in patient-facing roles in a SNF, hospital or physician office is required.
• Ability to complete screenings and delegated tasks as well as elevate findings to the clinical team where appropriate.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to quickly build rapport with members
• Experience with complex government-sponsored populations preferred, e.g., Medicaid, Medicare beneficiaries.
• Ability to take a creative and innovative approach to problem-solving to aid patients in overcoming barriers to care transitions.
• Excellent computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and electronic medical record documentation required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills to interact with members, families, community stakeholders, and interdisciplinary team required.
• Ability to work independently.
• Active unencumbered driver’s license, with automobile insurance, reliable transportation, and ability to work in office and in the community.
• Second language ability is desirable relevant to local population, geography, resources.

Working conditions

This job operates in the community, hospitals, healthcare facilities and within a professional office environment. This role requires reliable transportation to commute back and forth between inpatient facilities and office; and routinely uses general office equipment.

Physical requirements

• Ability to communicate clearly and exchange accurate information consistently.
• Ability to remain stationary for long periods of time.
• Repetitious movements.
• Constantly operates computer, keyboard, copy and fax machine, phone, and other general office equipment.
• Ability to occasionally move objects up to 20 lbs.

Direct reports

None.