The primary responsibility of this position is to work closely with patients and staff to ensure that access to medication is not a barrier to patient care. Other responsibilities include data collection and tracking and supporting practitioners with patient-care related tasks. It requires the ability to work across departments and provides the opportunity to learn about the diverse types of care provided at Community of Hope. In addition, the Patient Advocate will interact and build relationships with patients, Health Services staff, and community members. The ability to work within a team, manage different projects, communicate effectively, build relationships and remain organized are key components of this position.
The Patient Advocate serves as part of the Health Services Department Health Services and is supervised by the Medical Director. The Patient Advocate will have his or her own desk space at the Conway Health and Resource Center and will sit in close proximity to the Patient Services Manager, Clinical Nurse Manager and medical providers. To comply with job duties the Patient Advocate will use a computer and telephone at his or her worksite and will have access to EMR, email, and the internet for research purposes.
Specific Duties include:
Ensure affordable and uninterrupted access to prescribed medications and supplies for CHRC patients:
- Serve as a liaison between patients, providers, insurance companies, pharmacies, and pharmaceutical companies;
- Responsible for answering CHRC’s prescription refill line, processing requests (via telephone encounter) and notifying patients when prescriptions are ready for pick-up;
- Assist patients in filling prescriptions upon receiving prior authorization for non-formulary medications;
- Investigate programs available through pharmaceutical companies, known as patient assistance programs, and will facilitate applications and supporting documentation for submission to these programs on behalf of patients when authorizations are not possible;
- Work with knowledgeable pharmacy staff in order to stay up-to-date on forms and authorizations required for common insurance programs and share this knowledge with the Community of Hope clinical staff as needed;
- Maintain pharmacy inventory and submit monthly updates to Clinical Nurse Case Manager.
Coordinate Medical Transportation Activities:
- Educate patients on medical transportation benefits and service utilization;
- Work with patients and medical providers to complete applications for MetroAccess;
Facilitate orders of durable medical equipment:
- Build, maintain, and disseminate knowledge of reliable pharmacy suppliers;
- Track coverage of particular brands of glucometers and strips based on insurance formularies;
- Optional: Receive training on and become proficient in at-home blood glucose testing, and will train patients on best practices for their at-home blood glucose testing.
Coordinate rapid HIV testing program with the DC Department of Health:
- Ensure that CHRC is adequately stocked with testing supplies. Collect and submit monthly testing reports;
- Attend DC DOH-sponsored meetings and trainings alongside Clinical Nurse Manager to stay current with testing and reporting guidelines.
Assisting COH quality management staff in program evaluation and reporting efforts:
- Assist with gathering and reporting information on birth weight measures;
- Distribute and collect surveys for bi-annual Patient Satisfaction Survey;
- Submit survey results to COH quality management team;
- Draft reports develop charts and graphs and designing presentations as needed.
Community Engagement:
- Represent Community of Hope at community events including health fairs by tabling, providing information on clinic services, and speaking to the public;
- Work with COH Community Engagement Coordinator in developing volunteer opportunities that strengthen program efforts at the clinic;
- Support recruitment, orientation, training, supervision and appreciation efforts to build and maintain a qualified, connected group of Health Center volunteers.
Patient Navigator will receive training on:
- eCW, clinic’s EMR system;
- HIV Clearview Rapid Test: administration and recording;
- How to use a blood glucose meter and train new patients;
- Providing orientations to new volunteers.