Patient Navigator

The **Patient Navigator**is a liaison between patients, families/caregivers and health care providers, guiding them through the health care system and connecting them with the right professionals, in the right service area. The Patient Navigator will make patients, families/caregivers aware of available resources and assist them in accessing services. He/ She will work directly with patients, health care providers and other individuals or organizations that provide patient services and supports. Reporting to the Director of Patient Experience/Patient Relations and as a member of the Patient Experience Team the Patient Navigator provides case management with complex cases and acts as a resource to other Health Navigators. The Patient Navigator will provide guidance in accessing services to address a wide range of physical, psychological, social, emotional, and practical needs. He/ She will provide a single point of contact for coordination and integration of services that the patient/family/caregiver requires.

**Duties**:

- Serve as an open, primary contact for patients, and families/caregivers that require assistance in understanding and navigating the health care system.
- Provide options and redirects requests to appropriate operation personnel in Health PEI as well as connecting patients with services offered outside of the province
- Connects with members of Health PEI Executive Leadership Team and Directors of other government agencies to identify and coordinate patient and family care needs.
- Engages in critical thinking, integrates best practice/evidence-based knowledge, and exercises ethical judgement and advocates for changes when organizational policies fail to meet the needs of patients.
- Provides support and acts as a resource to other Health PEI Navigators
- Foster effective working relationships between patient/family/caregiver and health care providers.
- Build new and support existing working relationships with other health jurisdictions to promote Patient and Family Centered Care, Patient Experience and the Patient Navigator role.
- Collect and provide information and data including trends to Executive Leadership Team of Health PEI regarding patient and family/caregiver requests for navigation support.
- Identify supports for the patient navigator program within Health PEI.
- Accurately documents all interactions with patient, family/caregiver including compliments and complaints.
- Educate patient and family/caregiver on many aspects of navigating the health care system by providing information or facilitating access to support, education and counseling.
- Educate patient and family/caregiver about available health care services within Health PEI (ie. Diabetes Education Centre, Cardiac Rehabilitation clinic, Primary care coordination, Home Care, and emergency services)
- Assist with administrative duties such as preparing proposals, policy statements, reports, briefing notes, responses and Treasury Board/Executive Council memos on relevant patient navigator matters, where appropriate.

**Minimum Qualifications**:

- Minimum Baccalaureate degree a Health Field, Masters Degree would be an asset.
- Registered or eligible for registration with their representative PEI professional association.
- Extensive experience working within the Health system on Prince Edward Island is required.

**Other Qualifications**:

- Knowledge and broad understanding of the provincial health system. Must understand how to access necessary health services both within and outside Health PEI.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with Health PEI staff, health professionals, government employees of various departments, and others within and outside the health system.
- Strong communication skills (verbally, in writing and electronically), with patient, family/caregiver and all health providers is essential.
- Experience and demonstrated skills in presentations and providing patient education is required.
- Be capable of forging a relationship of trust with patient, family/caregiver by telephone.
- Ability to exercise diplomacy, tact, and judgment in dealing with difficult and complex situations.
- Conflict resolution skills.
- Must be innovative and creative in order to develop strategies that meet the needs of patient, family/caregiver.
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills to collect and analyze data based on evidence based approaches to particular issues in service delivery.
- Ability to undertake research and analysis of program using a variety of resources and research methods;
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, while respecting professional boundaries, cultural differences and team decisions.
- Ability to pursue opportunities to support improving patient experiences and patient and family centered care across Health PEI.
- The successful applicant must have a good previous work and attendance record.
- Must have access to reliable transportation