Patient Navigator (Breast Surgical Clinic)

University Hospital; Newark (NJ); On-site; USD 62,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical & Prescription Drug Coverage

Dental & Vision Insurance

Health Savings Account (HSA) & FSA

Short- & Long-Term Disability

Pension Plan

Pet Insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Professional Development

Job summary

University Hospital is seeking a Patient Navigator to guide breast care patients through the healthcare system, ensuring timely appointments and helping remove barriers to care. You will develop relationships with referring providers and coordinate referrals, while tracking requests and reporting trends.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree and at least two years in a healthcare setting. Bilingual English/Spanish is preferred; OPN-CG credential must be obtained within three months of hire.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in a healthcare environment working directly with patients.
• Experience in patient advocacy and/or customer service.
• Familiarity with medical terminology.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and general computer applications.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a patient advocate, guiding patients through the healthcare system and ensuring timely access to appointments based on established clinical guidelines.
• Coordinates and manages patient referrals to support efficient and seamless care delivery.
• Assists patients in overcoming access-to-care barriers and navigating healthcare services.
• Develops and maintains relationships with referring physicians, healthcare providers, and community partners.
• Obtains and organizes required medical records, documentation, and patient-care materials.
• Provides health education and promotes community awareness through outreach initiatives.
• Tracks and monitors all new patient requests, referral activity, and patient access trends.
• Prepares and reports monthly statistics, referral patterns, and related data.
• Collaborates with physicians, nurses, and the patient care team to coordinate services.
• Identifies and removes obstacles that may prevent patients from receiving appropriate healthcare and support services.

Skills

Patient advocacy

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Bilingual English/Spanish

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Overview

About the Role

The Patient Navigator supports patients throughout their breast care journey and serves as a patient advocate, helping patients navigate through the health care system and ensuring appropriate appointments are scheduled in a timely manner in accordance with guidelines established by the Medical Director of the Practice/Department. The Patient Navigator assists with access-to-care, identifies and helps remove barriers that may delay care, develops relationships with referring health care providers, and supports the complete and efficient management of referrals, including the acquisition of necessary patient-care materials, medical records, imaging, pathology reports, and other relevant clinical information. This individual works with community groups to increase health awareness and provide health education. In addition, the Patient Navigator will track all new patient requests, provide monthly statistics, and monitors referral patterns. The Patient Navigator works closely with the patient care team and assists in the coordination of patient care by addressing barriers that may otherwise prevent or delay patients from receiving health care services.

Responsibilities

What You’ll Do

• Serves as a patient advocate, guiding patients through the healthcare system and ensuring timely access to appointments based on established clinical guidelines.
• Coordinates and manages patient referrals to support efficient and seamless care delivery.
• Assists patients in overcoming access-to-care barriers and navigating healthcare services.
• Develops and maintains relationships with referring physicians, healthcare providers, and community partners.
• Obtains and organizes required medical records, documentation, and patient-care materials.
• Provides health education and promotes community awareness through outreach initiatives.
• Tracks and monitors all new patient requests, referral activity, and patient access trends.
• Prepares and reports monthly statistics, referral patterns, and related data.
• Collaborates closely with physicians, nurses, and the patient care team to coordinate services.
• Identifies and removes obstacles that may prevent patients from receiving appropriate healthcare and support services.
• Helps ensure a positive patient experience by facilitating communication and continuity of care across departments.

Qualifications

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in a healthcare environment working directly with patients.
• Technical clinical experience and/or experience in a specialty practice area (e.g., Oncology, OB/GYN) preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in patient advocacy and/or customer service.
• Experience in an outpatient setting preferred.
• Familiarity with medical terminology required.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and general computer applications.
• Relevant years of experience and/or navigator training may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Flexibility to work varying hours as needed.
• Friendly, outgoing, compassionate, and empathetic demeanor.
• Dedicated, resourceful, and patient-focused approach.
• Bilingual English/Spanish skills preferred.
• For accreditation purposes, candidates must hold the Oncology Patient Navigator Certified Generalist (OPN-CG) credential, issued by the AONN+ Foundation for Learning, at the time of hire or obtain the credential within three (3) months of hire as a condition of continued employment.

What We Offer

• Medical & Prescription Drug Coverage
• Dental & Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) & Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Short- & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional Development

Compensation

In compliance with New Jersey’s Pay Transparency Act, the salary range for this position is PS/22s: $61,802- $88,273 per year . University Hospital considers multiple factors when determining compensation, including (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s relevant work experience, education and training, key skills, internal equity, market data, and organizational needs.The expected salary range for this position is in accordance with the New Jersey Pay Transparency Law; final compensation will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

About Us

University Hospital is one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers. As the principal teaching affiliate of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the only state-certified Level 1 Trauma Center in Northern New Jersey, University Hospital is training the next generation of physicians and advancing science to discovery while taking exceptional care of patients, regardless of their financial situation.

University Hospital offers a competitive salary & comprehensive benefits package. ... For more information, visit www.uhnj.org/hrweb.