Early Childhood Patient Navigator

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary - MEI; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 66,878,000 - 95,619,000; Full time

Job summary

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary is seeking a Patient Navigator to work with infants and toddlers (birth-3) who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. You will coordinate diagnostics, hearing technology, and Early Intervention services, while aligning with EHDI benchmarks and minimizing barriers.

You will partner with audiology, SLP, EI providers, and social work to support families, track follow-up, document care plans, and connect families to community resources and transportation

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in social work, healthcare management, or related field required.
• 1 years of social work, case management, or related clinical experience preferred.
• Experience with infants/toddlers in Early Intervention settings preferred.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for patients and families in care planning.
• Coordinate care with audiology, SLP, EI services.
• Educate families on care plans and timelines.
• Link families to resources including social services and transportation.
• Maintain accurate documentation of interactions and referrals.
• Support follow-up and care coordination after diagnosis.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Care coordination

Organization

Time management

Advocacy

Education

Bachelors Degree in Social Work

Bachelors Degree in Healthcare Management

Bachelors Degree in Related Field of Study

Tools

Electronic Health Records

Case management software

Job description

Job Summary

Responsible for working closely with infants and toddlers (birth-3) who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families to ensure timely, coordinated, and family-centered care. The Patient Navigator supports families in accessing diagnostic, hearing technology, and Early Intervention services in alignment with Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) benchmarks, while reducing barriers and improving caregiver understanding and engagement.

Does this position require Patient Care?

No

Essential Functions

• Advocate for patients and their families, ensuring their needs and preferences are considered in the care planning process.
• Serve as a liaison between patients, healthcare providers, and other relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary healthcare team including audiology, speech-language pathology, and early intervention providers to coordinate patient care services, appointments, and follow-up plans.
• Assist patients in understanding and adhering to their care plans with emphasis on early childhood hearing loss and intervention timelines.
• Identify and connect patients with appropriate healthcare and community resources, such as support groups, financial assistance programs, and transportation services.
• Educate patients and their families about their medical conditions, treatment options, and self‑care strategies.
• Ensure that patients are informed and empowered to actively participate in their healthcare decisions.
• Maintain accurate and detailed documentation of patient interactions, care plans, and resource referrals.

Role-Specific Responsibilities

• Provide longitudinal support to families of children birth-3 following diagnostic AER through Early Intervention enrollment.
• Meet with caregivers after diagnosis and at regular intervals to support follow-up and care coordination.
• Provide counseling on hearing loss, communication options, and intervention pathways.
• Guide families through the Pediatric Hearing Healthcare Roadmap.
• Coordinate referrals and services with Early Intervention (EI) agencies and Deaf/Hard of Hearing specialty providers.
• Support adherence to Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) timelines for diagnosis and intervention.
• Screen caregiver needs and facilitate referrals (e.g., social work, MGB providers).
• Monitor caregiver stress and adjust support accordingly.
• Track appointments and proactively follow up to reduce missed visits and delays in care.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and external agencies (e.g., MCDHH, DPH, EI programs).
• Maintain documentation, case tracking, and required Releases of Information.
• Participate in regular case review meetings and contribute to care planning.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's Degree Clinical Social Work required or Bachelor's Degree Healthcare Management required or Bachelor's Degree Related Field of Study required

Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree?

Yes

Licenses and Credentials

Experience

Social work, case management or related field preferably in a clinical setting 1-2 years preferred

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with infants and toddlers (birth-3), particularly in Early Intervention settings
• Background in deaf/hard of hearing (DHH) services
• Familiarity with Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) guidelines and timelines
• Experience providing caregiver counseling or family‑centered support following a new diagnosis
• Knowledge of communication modalities and intervention options for children who are deaf or hard of hearing
• Experience coordinating care across medical, educational, and community based systems

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• 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.

Additional Job Details (if applicable)

At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience if applicable, education, certifications and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package. In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth.

• Remote Type: Onsite
• Work Location: 243-245 Charles Street
• Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40
• Employee Type: Regular
• Work Shift: Day (United States of America)
• Pay Range: $23.34 - $33.37/Hourly
• Grade: 5

EEO Statement

5110 Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran's Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.

Mass General Brigham Competency Framework

At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership "looks like" by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People‑Focused, half Performance‑Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.