Job Description

The Patient Navigator (PN) will provide care coordination, resources, and advocacy for patients needing support as they transition care from emergency room visits or hospitalizations to outpatient treatment services for substance use disorder. This role will function within our integrated care team of medical professionals. The PN will help patients navigate the healthcare system, reduce access barriers, and help patients achieve improved health outcomes and quality of life. Highly skilled interpersonal communication, compassionate medical care, and strong work initiative are essential to the success of the PN. An ideal candidate will adhere to the highest standards to provide comprehensive, inclusive, patient-centered care to support vulnerable persons with SUD during treatment transitions and engagement. This position is supported by the MDH-TOWN grant program, currently funded through May 31, 2028. Renewal of this position is dependent on job performance, availability of work, and future funding.

This position is based out of Minneapolis, MN and is eligible for hybrid work from home and/or on campus work dependent upon individual performance and organizational need, though some regular on-site work will be expected. Because the University of Minnesota is a land-grant institution that serves the state, residing in Minnesota is typically required.

• Connect patients with medical care, health insurance, and pharmacy benefits.
• Coordinate resources for food, housing, transportation, education and employment.
• Facilitate access to services for physical, mental, and spiritual health.
• Conduct a high volume of outbound calls to patients to assist during transitions of care, remind of upcoming appointments, reschedule missed office visits, and check-in about medication needs and resources.
• Contact healthcare providers, pharmacies, and recovery community organizations (RCOs) about follow-up information to support patients
• Answer questions from inbound callers and provide support or resources, as requested.
• Assist in the maintaining harm reduction supplies at North Memorial Hospital (NMH; emergency department, labor/delivery, inpatient care) and distributing kits to patients at time of contact.
• Partner with other care coordinators and support staff at NMH, Broadway Family Medicine, and other local clinics to meet the needs of patients and share resources.
• Conduct survey follow-ups with patients to determine outcomes of patient navigation services.
• Clinical documentation in electronic health record.
• Maintain HIPAA-compliant database for patient navigation services for tracking patient services and reporting purposes to funding agency.
• Promote health equity in interactions with patients and medical professionals.
• Maintain relationships with RCOs, neighborhood coalitions/councils, and advocacy groups that support patients.
• Participate in outreach efforts, including community health fairs and events, MN State Fair experience, and neighborhood huddle meetings to share information, promote service, and improve community health.
• Maintain an organized, up-to-date repository of community resources for food, housing, education, employment, medical/dental, SUD treatment, mental health, and legal concerns.
• Stay current on education and knowledge base associated with professional degree.
• Conduct patient navigation services that are contemporary with ASAM principles (American Society of Addiction Medicine).
• Uphold the missions and values of the University of Minnesota and affiliated clinical sites we serve.

Anticipated Starting Salary: $22.36hr to $25.29hr depending upon qualifications and experience.

All required qualifications must be documented on application materials.

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS plus at least two years of experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal to at least six years.
• Experience working with socioeconomically and ethnically diverse populations
• Ability to work effectively within an interdisciplinary clinical team
• Intermediate level of proficiency in MS applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters-level education in social work, public health or psychology with 3+ years of clinical care experience or care/case management
• Prior experience working with persons with SUD
• Experience with trauma-informed, person-centered, strength-based, and culturally responsive care practices (to be acquired with a period of time) Understanding of hospital, community resources, and resource utilization management. Knowledge of evidence-based guidelines for patient navigation and addiction treatment.
• Experience with electronic medical record software (e.g., Epic)
• Prior use REDCap database, or similar

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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