Community Resource Navigator (TC-3)

SUMMARY:

This position will be working with the department’s Tucson Collaboration Community Care program (TC3), a collaboration between TMC and Tucson Fire Department. The intent of the program is to provide call mitigation of unnecessary 911 calls and redirect these callers to the appropriate agencies and community resources.  Reducing unnecessary 911 calls is part of the department’s resource and service efficiency plan. This position will process referrals from field crews and manage a caseload of clients that may include medical, behavioral health and substance abuse disorders with various and dynamic needs. Navigators are part of a multi-disciplinary team to coordinate a plan of care utilizing expertise in counseling, crisis intervention and medical-legal issues, to ensure optimization of health outcomes for clients and their families. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Process referrals by inputting client information as received from the fire field crews or TMC Case management team each day.

Process client intakes by meeting with clients on the phone or in their home to gather basic information including but not limited to perceived needs, home income, health insurance information, primary care information and caseworker information. Includes home safety check and attempt to meet with any other important parties, delivery of DME, Set up and attend appointments with clients, assist clients with home moves,  Facilitate and coordinate with outside agencies for home repair for safety, hoarding clean up and pest extermination.  Assist clients with connections to providers.

Evaluates, documents, and addresses psychosocial, cultural, emotional, and economic needs of patients and families.

Collaborates with the hospital care team, outpatient care team, and community agencies including city departments, code enforcement and police department as needed, to creatively resolve issues that could potentially be harmful to client or families..

Resource outreach by creating and maintaining relationships with various agencies within the community that can provide TC-3 clients with alternatives to the 911 system to more appropriately manage each individual's particular circumstances.

Provide case management through identifying and coordinating with community resources in the area that will likely meet your client's and family needs. These should be alternatives to the 911 system and may include ongoing case management, durable medical equipment or medical and behavioral avocation.

Works with clients and multidisciplinary teams to identify discrepancies and barriers to health, wellness and independence towards health equity. 

Evaluate social  determinates of health and develop individualized plan of care for client/family to overcome identified barriers.  Evaluates clients living situations and acts as an advocate for clients.

Measures identified barriers, records data and coordinates all efforts to improve health and wellbeing. 

Improves understanding of access points for medical care resulting in decreased use of emergency resources, decreased hospital admission, re-admission and unnecessary expenditures. 

Provides education regarding health promotion and disease prevention or exacerbation. 

Acts as navigator and entry point for marginalized community members to essential life enhancing resources. 

Works with clients experiencing behavioral health and or substance use/abuse, acting as liaison into BH/SU/SA treatment. 

Evaluates and initiates changes when indicated to ensure efficiency and maximize benefit to patient or client and organization.

Intervenes, as needed, in emotional crises with patients and families.

Ensures and completes documentation in the electronic record that is clear, concise, accurate and organized.

Maintain current knowledge of procedures, equipment, and supplies necessary for ensuring safe patient care. 

Receives guidance and direction from TC-3 Leadership and Fire Department Chain-of-Command in a professional and receptive manner.

Maintains a clean, safe environment.

Attends in-services and staff meetings then incorporates the information to improve patient care.

Uses crisis intervention skills when appropriate.

Interacts with patients in a professional manner.  

Facilitates communication and cooperation among various hospital and community partners involved in care of patients.

Adheres to and supports team members in exhibiting TMCH values of integrity, community, compassion, and dedication. 

Adheres to TMC organizational and department-specific safety, confidentiality, values policies and standards.

Performs related duties assigned.

 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION:  Associates degree or an equivalent combination of relevant education or experience.

EXPERIENCE: One year experience as an Arizona Licensed Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, Licensed Community Health Worker, LPN, Patient Care Technician, Case Manager Assistant, Discharge Planner or a behavioral health technician in an acute care or outpatient psychiatric setting. 

LICENSURE OR CERTIFICATION:   Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.  Crisis Prevention Instruction (CPI) or crisis intervention training or equivalent required within three months of hire.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:  

·       Knowledge of basic life support, first aid, and a hospital approve non Violent Crisis Intervention Training Program.

·       Knowledge of behavioral health best practices, regulations and procedures to ensure safety of patients and staff.

·       Skill in providing basic support and leisure activities for patients.

·       Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, treatment plans operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.

·       Ability to complete routine reports and correspondence.

·       Ability to actively listen and communicate clearly and concisely; encouraging open communications to achieve mutual understanding and accurately interpret others' communication or instructions to take appropriate action.

·       Ability to speak effectively with patients/clients, co-workers, and other personnel.

·       Ability to make wise and fair judgments based on solid facts; is open minded and understanding of values of superiors, subordinates, peers and others.

·       Ability to calculate figures and compute rate, ratio, and percent, and to draw and interpret bar graphs; ability to apply basic algebraic concepts.

·       Ability to define problems, identify data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of that which 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. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands and fingers to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talks or hear.  Occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; or smell.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and move more than 100 pounds with or without assistance.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.

The employee may be required to physically restrain or subdue a patient in order to protect the patient and others.  The employee must be able to physically respond to this situation by utilizing interventions based on the principles of a hospital approved Non Violent Crisis Intervention Training Program. 

Occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and toxic or caustic chemicals; occasionally exposed to risk of electrical shock; potentially exposed to infectious organisms during routine and emergency situations.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; however, sometimes the noise level can be intense for a short period if a patient is agitated.