Patient Navigator

Heart Vascular and Leg Center; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare facility specializing in vascular care is seeking a Patient Navigator to coordinate comprehensive care for patients with Peripheral Vascular Disease. This role requires strong clinical knowledge and 3+ years of experience in case management or nursing. Responsibilities include developing care plans, educating patients, and collaborating with healthcare teams. Ideal candidates should have medical assisting certification and effective communication skills to advocate for patients' needs. This position is located in California.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in case management or nursing.
• Strong clinical knowledge of Peripheral Vascular Disease.
• Ability to manage multiple care plans.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate patient care plans in collaboration with healthcare teams.
• Educate patients about treatment and lifestyle changes.
• Monitor patient progress and adjust care plans as necessary.

Skills

Medical Assisting Certification

Communication skills

Critical thinking

Organizational skills

Experience with PVD patients

Education

Certification in Medical Assisting

Case management certification (CCM or ACM)

Tools

Electronic health record (EHR) systems

Job description

The Patient Navigator plays a pivotal role in providing comprehensive care coordination for patients with Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) enrolled in our Critical Care Management Program. This role involves working closely with multidisciplinary healthcare teams to ensure that patients receive optimal care from diagnosis through treatment. The Patient Navigator will serve as a patient advocate, ensuring that patients are.

Responsibilities

• Care Coordination: Develop, implement, and manage individualized care plans for PVD patients in collaboration with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
• Patient Assessment: Conduct comprehensive assessments of patients' physical and social needs upon program enrollment and throughout treatment. Monitor changes in health status and coordinate necessary interventions.
• Patient Education: Provide education to patients and families about Peripheral Vascular Disease, treatment options, lifestyle changes, and the critical care management process. Empower patients to take an active role in their health.
• Progress Monitoring: Track patient progress, ensure compliance with prescribed treatments, and adjust care plans as needed to improve outcomes. Use evidence-based guidelines to evaluate care effectiveness.
• Resource Management: Ensure patients have access to necessary resources such as medications, therapies, follow-up care, and community support services. Assist with referrals to specialists and services as needed.
• Communication & Documentation: Maintain clear, accurate, and up-to-date patient records. Communicate effectively with the healthcare team, patients, and families regarding changes in care plans, treatment progress, and outcomes.
• Advocacy: Act as a patient advocate by addressing concerns, facilitating communication, and ensuring that patients’ needs and preferences are respected throughout their care journey.
• Quality Improvement: Participate in quality assurance and performance improvement activities related to the Critical Care Management Program, including tracking patient outcomes and identifying areas for improvement.
• Case Review and Reporting: Regularly report on patient progress to the program director and healthcare team. Participate in case reviews and ensure that care protocols are followed.
• Patient Testimonial Collection
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Certification in Medical Assisting required.
• Case management certification (CCM or ACM) preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in case management, nursing, or a related field, ideally in critical care, vascular care, or chronic disease management.
• Experience with working with patients with Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) or similar chronic health conditions is a plus.
• Strong clinical knowledge and understanding of Peripheral Vascular Disease and its management.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Ability to develop, implement, and manage care plans.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to handle multiple cases simultaneously.
• Proficient in electronic health record (EHR) systems.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Note

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.