Job Information
Johns Hopkins University Patient Navigator in Baltimore, Maryland
We are seeking a Patient Navigator who will play a central role in providing essential guidance and support to patients with perinatal depression participating in a clinical trial. As the primary point of contact, this role focuses on offering comprehensive assistance throughout the process of referral, access and optimal utilization of perinatal depression services. This may include sending referrals and following up with participants and referral agencies, making appointments for participants, and assisting participants in addressing any barriers to care. This service may be provided face-to-face, over telehealth communications, email, text, etc. Collaborating closely with the care team and external stakeholders, the Depression Care Coordinator will actively contribute to the optimization of perinatal mental health and overall positive health outcomes for patients.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
Initiate, build, and maintain a strong rapport with patients with perinatal depression enrolled in the clinical trial.
Provide necessary referrals for perinatal depression services and treatment.
Provide comprehensive support and guidance to patients throughout the process of referral, establishing care, and following up with perinatal depression services.
This may include sending referrals and following up with participants and referral agencies, making appointments for participants, and assisting in addressing any barriers to care.
Collaborate with care team members including Physicians, Advanced Practice Providers, Nursing staff, Social Workers, and research coordinators to facilitate access and initiation of perinatal depression care and follow-up of care utilization over time.
In-person and remote check-ins with patients at multiple clinic sites within the institution receiving perinatal depression care through multiple service areas to verify patient was able to access referred services and treatments and to perform ongoing care coordination as needed.
Check-ins may be face-to-face during office visits, virtual meetings over telehealth platforms, phone calls, e mails and texts as agreed upon by the participant.
Facilitate communication among various care team members, such as Physicians, Advanced Practice Providers, nursing staff, social workers, and research coordinators, to expedite access, referrals, establishing care, follow up care and utilization of perinatal depression services.
Coordinate troubleshooting efforts in conjunction with the care team to help ensure that patients can optimally access perinatal depression services.
Ensure patients are equipped with all necessary resources to comprehend the initiation and utilization processes related to perinatal depression care.
Reinforce education to encourage and sustain care for perinatal depression among patients.
Maintain a current understanding of patients' challenges encountered during the phases of access and usage of perinatal depression services.
Provide personalized support tailored to patients who encounter specific barriers, offering troubleshooting guidance based on their specific individual barriers to care.
Meet regularly with the investigators and research team and participate in refining the role of the perinatal depression navigator to best support patients based on their observations and experiences.
Adhere to strict confidentiality guidelines in alignment with the policies of Johns Hopkins University (JHU) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Safeguard patient information and sensitive data throughout all interactions and processes.
Schedule and conduct video visits with patients requiring additional assistance, ensuring their needs are addressed effectively.
The Care Coordinator will procure data (with release of information and consent) from participants’ medical records about their mental health diagnosis and treatments.
Review all participant electronic surveys and make and document additional referrals based on survey responses and check-ins with participants.
Encourage participants to complete any missing surveys during their check-ins with participants.
Receive email alerts for the following instances based on Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale responses (below) and immediately notify principal investigator and participant’s provider of these results. Document attestation in Premier’s secure Custom Intervention Platform (CIP) that PI and participant’s primary provider have been notified.
oPositive response to question 10
oIncrease by 4+ points in total EPDS score
oIncrease in EPDS over 13
Participate in a pre- and post-study site survey assessing the current levels of care coordination provided by the local clinic.
Participate in a study survey for care coordinators to assess barriers and facilitators to providing care coordination to patients at risk for PPD and collect information about the Depression Care Coordinator’s professional background and previous experience with PPD.
Record all encounters and outcomes with study participants as well as their attempts to contact the participant in Premier’s secure Custom Intervention Platform (CIP)
Document all messages sent to PI and patient’s primary provider within compliance with reporting standards set by the organization in the electronic medical record.
Maintain confidential records of patient information, progression, and forms.
Monitor and track patient progression as they access, initiate, and use perinatal depression services.
Attend initial training session for depression care coordination and meetings related to the clinical trial.
Facilitating orders and completion of paperwork related to perinatal depression referrals interaction.
Special Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Genuine interest in working with patients with perinatal depression.
Demonstrated commitment to effective care coordination.
Show empathy and trustworthiness when interacting with patients.
Excellent communication skills, capable of concise communication with patients, the care team, and external stakeholders.
Organized with the ability to handle confidential patient materials and tracking.
Flexible and adaptable in responding to evolving patient and provider needs.
Must achieve and maintain a working knowledge of computer software specific to the project, including EPIC and Premier’s CIP, and internet function.
Minimum Qualifications
High School Diploma or graduation equivalent.
Two years related experience.
Additional education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Preferred Qualifications
Previous exposure to care coordination for perinatal depression.
An in-depth knowledge of local resources and services related to perinatal depression.
Advanced degree in health care or health care adjacent field.
Two years experience working in the healthcare industry with direct patient interaction.
Classified Title: Community Outreach Specialist
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Patient Navigator
Role/Level/Range: ACRO37.5/02/CC
Starting Salary Range: $15.50 - $26.00 HRLY ($20.75 HRLY targeted; Commensurate with experience)
Employee group: Casual / On Call
Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Exempt Status: Non-Exempt
Location: Remote
Department name: SOM OB GYN Maternal Fetal Medicine
Personnel area: School of Medicine
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Johns Hopkins University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. The university promotes affirmative action for minorities, women, disabled persons, and veterans.