Patient Navigator

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.

Job Responsibilities:

• 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.

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

The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota was created more than 50 years ago in response to a legislative mandate to train primary care physicians. Since then, we have been leaders in transforming the specialty through education, research, and patient care. We are the academic sponsor of seven family medicine residencies-five in the Twin Cities, two in Greater Minnesota. We are involved in medical student education activities across the Medical School's two campuses: Twin Cities and Duluth. We sponsor five fellowship programs-sports medicine, hospice and palliative medicine, behavioral medicine, clinical informatics, and human sexuality- and offer continuing medical education opportunities. We are regularly among the top National Institutes of Health-funded family medicine departments. Our faculty are actively researching health disparities, healthcare delivery, and population health. More at https://med.umn.edu/familymedicine.

Pay Range: $22.36hr to $25.92hr depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:
• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, pharmacy, and disability plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).