Patient Navigator

Description

Patient Navigator – Full-Time (Non-Exempt)

Hourly Pay: $29.00/hour + 6% bilingual differential (after passing Ritter Center’s bilingual test)
Reports to: Case Management Program Manager
Supervises: None

About Ritter Center

For more than 44 years, Ritter Center has been committed to preventing and ending homelessness and improving the health, dignity, and well-being of people living in poverty in Marin.

When you join us, you join a compassionate, mission-driven team that blends clinical best practices with a whole-person care approach. We work together to help each person address their medical, mental health, housing, and food needs.

We’re looking for people who are compassionate, mission-aligned, and excited to make a meaningful impact. If this sounds like you, we’d love to meet you.

All positions require a background check and Livescan fingerprinting.

Visit our website for a full list of benefits.

Position Overview

The Patient Navigator plays a vital role at Ritter Center’s health campus, assisting Marin County’s most vulnerable populations in accessing medical care, behavioral health care, and case management services, including financial assistance, housing, shelter, and representative payee services. This position is ideal for someone passionate about patient care, equitable health care access, and skilled in assisting underserved individuals. The qualified applicant for this role excels in a dynamic position, demonstrating high levels of patience and compassion.

The Patient Navigator provides personalized assistance to patients to facilitate access to quality medical care and other essential social services. This position will work in close proximity with other frontline staff to conduct needs-based assessments and direct them to the appropriate department. A primary responsibility will be ensuring that patients are informed of potential care options based on all services offered by Ritter Center. This position requires a strong interest in improving health outcomes, effective communication with diverse patients and staff, and ideally, a background in public health, case management, or social work. The successful candidate exhibits a strong customer service orientation, a proactive approach in finding solutions and resources to improve access and thrives in working autonomously with minimal support as needed. They are motivated by a dedication to enhancing health outcomes and promoting equity. 

Key Responsibilities

• Screen new and existing patients to determine current health and social service needs.
• Respond to patient inquiries and assist with the completion of paperwork.
• Provide referrals and ensure linkage with services and resources provided by Ritter Center and other Safety Net providers throughout Marin County.
• Identify patient barriers to care, such as transportation, insurance, and language, and refer patients to internal resources to support engagement.
• Educate patients on accessing services at Ritter Center, providing counsel to alleviate anxiety and fear.
• Develop familiarity with department teams and staff changes to effectively direct clients to service providers.
• Primary responsibility includes assisting clients in completing Ritter’s Client Registration form and maintaining accurate client information continuously.
• Regularly update client profiles in Ritter’s required multiple data systems.
• Collaborate with Patient Accounts Billing/Benefits Manager to support enrollment or maintenance of patient Medi-Cal status.
• Attend trainings and learning opportunities that expand content knowledge and best practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required compliance for all FQHC employees:

• Negative      TB test prior to start date.
• COVID-19      vaccination (or qualified exemption) per CA State Health Order (8/5).

Knowledge & Abilities:

• 1-2 years of experience with health care, behavioral health care, and/or social services
• Bilingual English/Spanish a plus but not required.
• Experience working closely with low-income, unhoused, substance abuse and other vulnerable populations.
• Proficiency with computers, including word processing, and the ability to learn new programs independently
• High proficiency in database management
• Strong communication skills with diverse populations
• Solid relationship-building and interpersonal skills
• Excellent coordination skills, including multitasking and setting priorities on work assignments
• Demonstrated awareness and value of cultural competence

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in or with a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC)

Employment Practices

Ritter Center is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, gender, age, national origin, disability, genetics, veteran status, marital status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.