Substance Use Navigator/Patient Care Navigator - Riverside University Hospital

As a Patient Care Navigator/Substance Use Navigator (SUN), you play an integral role in supporting medication for addiction treatment (MAT) while serving as an advocate to your patients throughout their transition from the acute care setting to outpatient treatment.

• Utilizes motivational interviewing techniques to communicate with patients in a respectful, culturally appropriate, non-judgmental manner.
• Initiates steps to promote patients’ access to health insurance.
• Pay range $20-$28/hr
• Practices regular communication with care team members to provide feedback around process improvement of services offered within the community, and to expand knowledge of those services that can better serve the patient and increase effectiveness of the role.
• Clearly communicates the purposes and services available to patients, family members and caregivers.
• Maintains frequent contact with SUN Program Supervisor and MAT Physician Champion to assist with other duties as assigned in support of other hospital initiatives. Interacts with the care team to collaboratively build a care pathway for patients to achieve sobriety and directs the execution of such a plan. Remains aware of and develops relationships with community resources and services offered, such as (and not limited to) mental health, housing, food, and employment assistance, and provides information on such services to patients as needed.
• Fully discloses relevant training, experience, and credentials, in order to help patients, understand the scope of services the Substance Care Navigator is qualified to provide and refrains from any activity that could be construed as clinical in nature.
• Act as a Substance Use Navigator (SUN) to interact with patients, assess their readiness for treatment and links the patients to care.
• Establishes relationships with, and serves as primary point of contact for, patients diagnosed with substance use disorder or co-occurring mental health disorders. If required by the hospital, this may include initial patient assessments and brief interventions using standardized tools.
• Provides liaison services to Addiction Medicine and outpatient clinics that manage addiction and wellness efforts towards sobriety.
• Maintains up-to-date information about the effects of various substances, withdrawal symptoms, and treatment options to effectively educate and counsel patients.
• Promotes expansion of MAT program and philosophy within the hospital.
• Works with the patient to coordinate transition into or out of a care setting by following instructions they received from a medical professional. This may include faxing information, obtaining referrals or authorizations, arranging transportation, coordinating durable medical equipment (DME), making and confirming appointments, obtaining test results, and other patient related duties as designated.
• Facilitates patients’ utilization of community resources to support patient wellness.
• Maintains documentation of all client encounters in excel or software-based program and completes reporting requirements according to program standards.
• This position is an onsite position.
• Required to attend and represent the organization at training and meetings at the request of CA Bridge program of the Public Health Institute.
• Maintains privacy and confidentiality of any drug treatment efforts throughout the patient’s lifespan of treatment.
• This position will require Monday-Friday, 8-hour shifts. may include weekend hours as determined by the site.

Requirements

• Understanding of substance use disorders (SUD) and medication assisted treatment (MAT).
• Healthcare experience.
• Proficient in medical terminology.
• Cultural competence in working with and serving populations whose social and cultural backgrounds are different from one’s own.
• Nonjudgmental, energetic, positive, harm-reduction approach to assisting patients with Substance Use Disorder (SUD).
• High school diploma or GED preferred.
• Fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (two weeks after a second shot of a two-dose vaccine of Pfizer or Moderna or after a single-dose vaccine of Johnson & Johnson) or have an approved exemption.
• CA health care workers will be required to get a COVID-19 booster by February 1, 2022.
• Respect for patient confidentiality and privacy.

Knowledge of computer skills using Google Suite, Excel and e-mail.
Benefits

• Training & Development
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)