Clinic Navigator

Under the supervision of the Access: Drug User Health Program's Clinical Supervisor and the Medical Director for Public Health, the Clinic Navigator serves two essential functions: supporting the walk-in medical clinic for people who use drugs (PWUD), and providing care coordination and follow up for patients of the clinic at Access’s Cambridge Location. The Clinic Navigator will assist the clinic team by preparing for patient visits, conducting vital sign checks, maintaining clinic flow and providing support to all clients and medical providers. The Clinic Navigator will work to support care coordination and follow up activities for clinic patients.

As part of the Access: Drug User Health program team, the Clinic Navigator will also support the syringe exchange/ drop in space by providing coverage as needed. In this capacity, the Clinic Navigator will provide health education, counseling and supported referrals for PWUDs who are at high-risk of infection or are HIV/HCV/STI positive, while delivering harm reduction services in a drop-in setting.

Primary Responsibilities:

Support walk-in medical clinic

• Organizes and prepares patient visit including conducting client registration, and insurance check in Electronic Medical Record
• Conduct vital signs checks
• Check exam room for general cleanliness and restocks as necessary
• Assists with patient care under the direction of appropriate medical provider
• Assists with collection and transport of lab samples.
• Maintains clinic flow in a drop-in based outpatient clinic
• Provide pre- and post-test counseling to those seeking HIV/STI/HCV screening and treatment
• Provide clients with harm reduction counseling on safer injection and vein care strategies, wound care, overdose prevention, sexual health and HIV/HCV/STI transmission
• Follow specimen collection protocols as determined by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; conduct fourth generation serum testing for HIV, performing phlebotomy as needed
• Conduct risk assessments and risk reduction plans.

Provide accessible and low threshold care coordination services that operate within the harm reduction framework to PWUD

• Provide clients with easily accessible and low threshold services that operate within the harm reduction framework. This includes assisting clients with accessing medical and behavioral health care, substance use treatment, housing options/ referrals to shelters and other essential support services.
• Assists patients with scheduling appointments
• Collaborates with Harm Reduction Case Manager/Care Coordinate to coordinate patient specialty care needs
• Coordinates with Fenway Health’s Prior Authorization Team and external specialty pharmacies as needed

Provide Harm Reduction Services to PWUD in a drop in/syringe exchange setting

• Conduct client overdose prevention training, and Naloxone distribution
• Collect and distribute syringes from PWUDs. This includes safely handling, storing and disposing of syringes, and general biohazard and infection control protocols
• Administer Naloxone during overdose events or other emergencies.
• Escort members to the building’s bathroom, ensuring that all precautions and safety checks are in place.
• Conduct periodic sweeps of the outside perimeter to ensure that there are no discarded materials and ensure community member safety
• Work with team to organize daily operations and programs in the drop-in center, including opening and closing procedures to help ensure facilities are clean, safe and welcoming.
• Participate in mobile outreach as needed

Participate in Planning and Implementation of New Interventions

• Participate in program planning through interdisciplinary team meetings
• Collaborate with clinical and non-clinical providers to provide quality care and seamless continuum of services
• Attend continuing education seminars, staff in-services, and stay up to date on relevant trends in prevention services among people who inject drugs.

Meet agency participatory expectations

• Adhere to all agency and departmental policies and procedures
• Participate in quality assessment and improvement activities as requested
• Adhere to the highest principles of client confidentiality
• Adhere to established safety policies, procedures and precautions; enforce agency’s policies and clinical procedures, including safety and crisis procedures.
• Attend all required meetings, in-services and professional trainings
• Maintains professional competence necessary to perform job responsibilities; maintains and provides agency with records of continuing education activities
• Perform related duties and projects as required

Requirements

• Minimum of a High School Diploma/GED
• Phlebotomy certification/experience or a willingness to be trained in phlebotomy required.
• Understanding or familiarity of basic medical terminology/basic familiarity with electronic medical record documentation
• Commitment to practical harm reduction strategies, and drug user health advocacy and rights
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage clinically and emotionally challenging situations with utmost professionalism, care and discretion
• Ability to work effectively with diverse groups of individuals and communities at risk for HIV, Hepatitis C and STIs -- especially injection drug users, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people of color, those who are foreign-born and may be undocumented, and those who are homeless or unstably housed.
• Self-directed, motivated and flexible with the ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Current CPR Certification preferred
• Harm Reduction work experience preferred Successful completion of Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, or EMT Program; CMA or RMA strongly preferred
• Knowledge of emergency housing options in greater Boston
• Knowledge of health-related social issues faced by injection drug users.
• Experience in conflict resolution, crisis de-escalation, and milieu management.
• Bilingual capacity preferred

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to meet the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodations:
• Physical work environment generally is that typical for an office in terms of lighting, temperature, and structure.
• Work may involve exposure to loud noise, strong odors, and emotionally liable individuals.
• Typically moderate physical activity requiring handling average-weight objects up to 15-20 pounds.
• May work with blood and other body fluids and could be exposed to pathogens and will require safety training
• Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require safety precautions and may require the use of protective equipment
• Sit at a computer station for extended periods of time
• Ability to keyboard for extended periods of time

We offer competitive salaries, and for those who qualify, an excellent benefits package; including comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans, and a retirement plan with employer match. We also provide 12 paid holidays, paid vacation, and more.

LGBTQIA+ identified persons, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC), and individuals from other historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.

This is a union position in a Fenway Health bargaining unit represented by 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.