Patient Advocate

Schedule: Monday - Friday: 8am to 4:30pm, may vary depending on outreach events

Pay: beginning at $20.70

Position Summary

The Patient Advocate supports Neighborhood Health Center (NHC) in accordance with the policies of the Board of Directors, the CEO, and funding agencies. The Patient Advocate is a trusted member and has a close understanding of the community we serve. This trusted relationship enables the Patient Advocate to serve as a liaison and build rapport between our patients/families, our clinics/staff, health/social services, and the community to facilitate access to services and improve the quality of healthcare and introduce our patients to all elements of wellness.

The Patient Advocate builds individual and community capacity by increasing health knowledge and self-sufficiency through a range of activities such as outreach, community education, informal counseling, social support and advocacy.

This position is funded through the Rural Health Transformation grant and is approved for one year only; during which time, employment is at-will. The grant may be renewed for a second year if funding continues, and program requirements and outcomes are achieved. If the grant is not renewed, the position will end at the conclusion of the one-year funding period. Continued employment opportunities may be available through other grants, contracts, partnerships, or organizational funding, but would depend on funding availability, program needs, and organizational approval at that time.

• No supervisory responsibilities

• Maintains strict confidentiality of patient and organizational information.
• Documents so anyone reading can understand the story; if you didn’t document, it didn’t happen.
• Embraces change, as change is constant. Has a mindset that is open to new knowledge and perspectives.
• Never stops learning and growing. Inspires growth in others.
• Presents a positive attitude.
• Holds oneself and others accountable. Focuses on doing things right and doing the right things.
• Supports team by recognizing and celebrating successes and failures, giving credit publicly, actively participating in team activities, treating team members with respect and dignity.
• Perseveres to the finish.
• Assists, where needed, to meet the needs of the organization, even if it’s not a task that is part of your normal routine. (Examples: office cleaning, shoveling snow off the sidewalk, attending an outreach event, assisting in another clinic) You will not be requested to complete any tasks outside of your scope of practice.
• Ensures compliance with all organizational policies, safety standards, and regulatory requirements.

• Establishes trusting relationships with patients and their families while providing general support and encouragement.
• Uses standardized assessments to determine most appropriate evidenced based interventions.
• Provides support and advocacy prior to and during initial medical visit and when necessary to assure patient’s medical needs.
• Assists patients in understanding their care plans and instructions.
• Provides ongoing follow-up, basic motivational interviewing and goal setting with patients/families.
• Assists patients with identifying socio-economic barriers that affect their overall health and develop health/social management plans and goals.
• Facilitates patient’s use of family, social and community resources; acting as an advocate with external resources and agencies and self-help programs.
• Provides/facilitates patients and their families with referrals for services to community agencies as appropriate.
• Participates in outreach events and community education to remain knowledgeable of community resources.
• Works…