Patient Navigator

Position Summary

The Patient Navigator and Retention Outreach Specialist provides navigation, psychosocial support, outreach, and re-engagement services to people living with HIV through Drew CARES’ Patient Support Services (PSS) program. The position supports newly diagnosed individuals, clients needing assistance remaining in care, and individuals who have disengaged from HIV services. Working with the multidisciplinary HIV clinic team, the position addresses barriers to care, connects clients to medical and supportive services, and promotes treatment engagement, overall well-being, and sustained viral suppression.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Build supportive relationships with clients using culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and nonjudgmental approaches that promote dignity, self-determination, and engagement in care.

• Conduct targeted assessments of barriers to care and assist with intake, eligibility documentation, and identification of client goals. Collaborate with the care team on navigation plans and follow-up priorities.

• Provide individual and group psychosocial support and goal-focused interventions. Facilitate a safe space to discuss living with HIV, relationships, substance use, adherence, prevention, disclosure, and stigma.

• Coordinate appointments, reminders, follow-up, and accompaniment as needed. Identify, locate, and re-engage clients with missed visits or interrupted care through telephone and field outreach.

• Serve as a liaison between HIV counseling and testing sites and the medical clinic to facilitate timely enrollment. Conduct outreach to individuals not yet enrolled in PSS, medical care coordination, or other agency services.

• Connect clients to HIV medical care, mental health care, substance use services, benefits assistance, housing resources, transportation, and other supportive services. Use warm handoffs and follow up on referral outcomes.

• Provide health education and practical support related to HIV care, treatment engagement, medication routines, and communication with providers, consistent with approved materials and staff training.

• Collaborate with clinic staff, social workers, and community partners; participate in case conferences and communicate service needs to reduce gaps and duplication in care.

• Oversee assigned incentives, contingency management activities, or other evidence-based interventions in accordance with program procedures and training.

• Document client contacts, services, referrals, follow-up, and outcomes accurately and promptly in E2LA and other required systems. Maintain complete records and support service reporting and quality improvement activities.

• Protect client confidentiality, obtain required consents, maintain professional boundaries, and follow institutional and program requirements for secure handling of client information.

• Provide immediate supportive assistance during crises within training and assigned scope, and promptly coordinate with supervisors, licensed providers, or emergency resources in accordance with program procedures.

• Participate in supervision, staff meetings, required training, and program activities. Perform other related duties consistent with the position and program scope.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or successful completion of GED.

• Reflects the population and community being served and has lived experience relevant to the peer role.

• Must not be a current client of the contractor’s clinic.

• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment with people of diverse races, ethnicities, nationalities, sexual orientations, gender identities and expression, socioeconomic backgrounds, religions, ages, English-speaking abilities, immigration statuses, and physical abilities.

• Valid Class C California driver’s license, proof of vehicle insurance, and reliable transportation for travel to sites throughout Los Angeles County.

• Ability and interest in performing field-based work to locate and assist clients.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of HIV, transmission, and conditions that commonly co-occur with HIV.

• Ability to interact with people living with HIV and their partners with empathy and without judgment; strong interpersonal and client advocacy skills.

• Comfort with field outreach.

• Experience in patient navigation, community outreach, HIV services, or related social services; familiarity with E2LA and local resources; accurate documentation and organizational skills.

• Bilingual English and Spanish skills.

Work Setting and Scope

Work may include clinic-based services, telephone outreach, and community visits or appointment accompaniment. The position provides navigation, education, and supportive services within assigned training and supervision. Clinical assessment, psychotherapy, and medical treatment decisions are referred to appropriately licensed staff.

COMPLEXITY:

• The ability to perform highly detailed work with sustained attention and care while providing/obtaining information on numerous inquiries is paramount to success in this position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Occasional stooping. Frequent standing. Constant walking, sitting, climbing, reaching high/low levels, finger movement, feeling, speaking clearly, hearing conversationally, and seeing far and near. Lifting up to 35 pounds; carrying materials to various locations

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Occasionally required to work in confined space, social environments and/or public events.

• General office environment. This office emphasizes the maintenance of security and confidentiality of all financial aid records for the College of Medicine MD Students.

• Student facing position and is located on campus.

MENTAL DEMANDS:

• The mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Frequent work on a variety of unrelated tasks. Constant calculating interrupted work, work on a variety of interrelated tasks, and use of sustained concentration, reasoning, judgment, resourcefulness, analytical ability, and ingenuity. Able to prioritize work for best outcomes.

Special Requirements:

• Ability to work effectively with a diverse community.

COVID-19

As a health professions institution of higher education, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science seeks to protect the health and safety of the University community. As a condition of enrollment and employment, students, faculty, and staff must comply with the current CDU Covid-19 requirements as described on the CDU Covid-19 webpage. Please visit the CDU Return to Campus website https://www.cdrewu.edu/covid-policy/ or email the Campus Nursing Office at nurseofficer@cdrewu.edu.

Excellent Benefits:

Your wellbeing is important to us, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (“CDU”) offers a comprehensive health and wellness benefits package to help you stay healthy and provide financial you protection.

Position Status:

Full Time, Non-Exempt

Compensation

• $23.56 - $29.17 an hour

Conditional Employment:

The employment status of this position is classified as “Conditional.” Conditional employment means that the job exists contingent upon continued funding and limitations of restricted funds or, the duration of a specific program, project, grant, or contract. Since 100% of your salary is funded by (HIV Core Medical Services - Patient Support), end date (02/28/2027), your position is contingent upon the continued receipt of these funds. Continuation of your position is dependent, in part, upon funding availability. Furthermore, no work may be performed after the grant end date(s) unless you have received an extension in writing from a Dean, Division VP, or Human Resources.

EEO Statement: Charles R. Drew University is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity. Applicants will be considered without regard to gender, race, age, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability or covered veteran status.

Fair Chance Statement: Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science will consider qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local “Fair Chance” laws.