Serves as a non-clinical resource and liaison for patients and their families. Assists with navigating all aspects of the healthcare system. Uses knowledge of the unit or clinic to resolve issues and identify ways to increase patient satisfaction. Collaborates with department managers to meet patient expectations, achieve quality outcomes and build a patient focused culture.
HOUDINI Link: The Patient Navigator will be responsible for recruiting participants and linking patients from ZSFG Inpatient or Emergency Department MAT initiation to outpatient MAT providers. The Navigators will prioritize delivering motivational interviewing and contingency management to patients and administering data questionnaires at intake, 3 months, 6 months and discharge periods. During visits with patients, Navigators will continue to assess barriers to remaining on MAT and work to overcome these barriers with the patient. Navigators will also work with their patients to address other socio-economic needs, such as housing, mental health care, primary care, and transportation
JUNO Community: The Patient Navigator will provide transitional support to individuals struggling with Opioid Use Disorder who are currently in custody and/or recently released from San Francisco County Jails. The Navigators will enroll and serve 200 patients over the 5-year grant period individually and in group settings with a focus on harm reduction counseling and opioid treatment linkage. Navigators will work in the jails and at the OBIC Clinic, located at 1380 Howard Street. Their goal will be to connect patients with a provider in the community who can continue their medication treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. Other objectives that Project JUNO Community will focus on decreasing the risk of overdose and other substance use related comorbidities, improving physical and mental health, improving employment and housing status, and improving social connectedness for patients up to 6 months after their release. Navigators will also administer standardized questionnaires at intake, 3 months, 6 months and at program discharge.
Project HOUDINI LINK (Hospital Opioid Use Disorder treatment INItiation and LINKage to care) provide medication assisted treatment (MAT) and comprehensive psychosocial services to 150 individuals aged 18 and older with opioid use disorder (OUD) who present to Zuckerberg San Francisco General (ZSFG). The population of focus is hospitalized patients who are initiated on MAT for OUD. These patients are San Francisco residents and have been referred to one of six diverse outpatient MAT programs. ZSFG is the largest safety net hospital in San Francisco and currently offers MAT on-demand to hospitalized patients, but linkage and follow-up to outpatient care is low. The population of focus is at high risk of treatment drop-out and drug overdose due to co-occurring mental illness, stimulant use, and homelessness. Three evidence-based practices that known to be effective with the population of focus are used to overcome these barriers: MAT pharmacotherapy (methadone, buprenorphine, or extended-release naltrexone), patient navigation with motivational interviewing, and contingency management. Patient Navigator will be providing recruitment and linkage from ZSFG Inpatient Units and ZSFG Emergency Department at 1.0 FTE
Project JUNO Community (JUstice-iNvolved Opioid use disorder treatment engagement in Community) provides medication assisted treatment (MAT) and comprehensive psychosocial services to 200 individuals aged 18 and older with opioid use disorder (OUD). These individuals are those who have initiated MAT while incarcerated at any California County Jail and agree to be linked to the Office-based Buprenorphine Induction Clinic (OBIC) after release. Patient navigators will work closely with Jail Health and OBIC teams to link and retain enrolled patients in outpatient care using contingency management and motivational interviewing.
Patient Navigators on both projects are responsible for recruiting participants, linking patients to community-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) providers, primary care, and mental health care as necessary, delivering motivational interviewing and contingency management, and re-engaging patients that may drop-out from MAT. The navigators act as a communication liaison to various treatment providers and facilitate patient scheduling as needed. Navigators also provide support during clinic visits as needed. They gather and document patient issues, barriers or concerns by regular patient visits and perform data collection.
The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.
To see the salary range for this position (we recommend that you make a note of the job code and use that to look up): TCS Non-Academic Titles Search (ucop.edu)
Please note: An offer will take into consideration the experience of the final candidate AND the current salary level of individuals working at UCSF in a similar role.
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- Graduate degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
- Experience working in a safety net hospital or in a jail/institution setting delivering motivational interviewing or contingency management preferred. Working knowledge of the organization and how to get issues resolved.
- Lived experience with substance use, justice-involvement, or homelessness encouraged to apply.
- In-depth knowledge of the organization and how to get issues resolved.
- Strong knowledge of Patient Rights & Responsibilities, Joint Commission standards, and Centers for Medicare / Medicaid regulations. Knowledge of Medical Terminology. Strong knowledge of data collection, compilation, and analytical techniques.
- Spanish language skills
Licenses/Certifications:- Registration with a California approved Substance Abuse Counselor Certification Organization (http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/provgovpart/Pages/CounselorCertificationOrganizations.aspx)
- Completed counselor certification may be provided in lieu of counselor registration.
- Bachelor's degree in related area and minimum three years of experience or equivalent experience / training.
- Nine-hour law/ethics and confidentiality online course to be completed through CCAAP upon being hired.
- Training and experience in delivering behavioral health interventions to persons with substance use disorder as well as conducting point of care urine drug screens with fidelity to established policies and procedures.
- Understanding of mental health issues and sensitivity toward mental health clients
- Understanding of substance use disorders, harm reduction and recovery.
- Strong aptitude to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate behavioral health services to the population of focus. Solid interpersonal and customer service skills. Diplomatic and highly organized. Ability to remain calm under pressure and apply sound judgment.
- Knowledge of the SF transportation system and ability to transport clients to various locations.
- Strong skills to comprehend and assess patient's grievances to quickly locate appropriate resource for assistance.
- Strong interpersonal and rapport building skills. Ability to communicate and resolve issues effectively with a diverse population of patients, staff and physicians.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. Ability to develop solutions and recommend changes and follow through with implementation.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong skills to work as part of a team, to prioritize and handle multiple tasks simultaneously and work independently in a fast-paced, demanding environment with minimal supervision. Ability to work collaboratively with other community agencies.
- Strong skills to deliver evidence-based assessments and interventions with fidelity.
- Demonstrated excellent attendance and reliability.
- Strong ability to maintain professional boundaries at all times.
- Proficiency with Windows-based software including Microsoft word, Excel, Outlook. Knowledge of computer systems and software used in functional area.
