Patient Navigator Lead - Proton Therapy Center

Overview

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world's leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world's deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

The Patient Navigator will be the initial in-person contact with patients at the Proton Therapy Center and has primary responsibility for the overall effective, friendly, and efficient functioning of the daily operations in the lobby/reception area. The Patient Navigator also provides care, guidance, and direction to patients and families as they enter the building, check in for their appointments, and require non-medical assistance of any type. The Patient Navigator will also help coordinate and arrange special functions for patients, such as weekly lunches, new patient orientation, and other center events and will work with outreach to connect patients with community opportunities to share their stories.

The Patient Navigator Lead plays a crucial role within the patient navigation team, combining hands-on Patient Navigation II responsibilities with leadership and operational duties. Reporting to the Patient Navigation Manager, this role ensures the smooth daily operation of navigation services, supports the team with complex cases, and assists in optimizing patient care processes.

This is a Full-Time (40 Hours) role working a variable schedule, primarily Monday thru Friday, which may include Evenings and Weekends.

Responsibilities

• Serving as initial physical point of contact, greeting and giving direction to patients and
• Receiving patient and family members at check-in for consult, weekly management, follow up visits and radiation treatment
• Monitor patient/family wait time for appointments/treatment. Notify supervisor of excessive wait
• Verifies current demographic/insurance information with patients
• Use of software such as Mosaiq and
• Responds to and resolves customer (patient/family/clinical staff, vendors, visitors) concerns as they relate to areas of center
• Works with supervisor in maintaining center's lobby and reception areas for cleanliness and efficiency
• Organize and participate in patient services
• Maintain inventory of department supplies and assist with
• Manage and maintain Patient Services database resulting in easily accessed information on appropriate advocate connections for potential patients, speaking opportunities, media opportunities,
• Work with outreach to manage and execute external communications to patients/families about upcoming community events
• Work with outreach to identify and create opportunities for patients/to share their experience in the community and build awareness, ultimately leading to potential new patients
• Manage facilities and services for Advocacy events internally and
• Provide telephone support by answering and directing incoming calls to the Intake department, taking appropriate messages and/or routing to the correct destination
• Operational Oversight: Monitor and manage messages from various communication channels (EPIC in-baskets, Teams, phone, email, etc.) to ensure timely scheduling of patient navigation visits.
• Communication: Facilitate prompt responses to inquiries from clinic teams, colleagues at Fred Hutch, patients, caregivers, and community agencies.
• Resource Coordination: Consult with navigators to coordinate resources and enhance care for complex cases.
• Team Support: Ensure equitable distribution of caseloads among navigators and provide guidance and support as needed.
• Leadership: Participate in the hiring and training of new navigators, and contribute to performance evaluations.
• Project Management: Assist in special projects assigned by the department manager to improve patient navigation services.
• Representation: Serve as a departmental representative in the absence of the manager, attending meetings and advocating for patient navigation as required.
• Process Improvement: Collaborate with the patient navigation manager to identify and implement operational improvements that enhance patient care and efficiency.
• Role Modeling: Demonstrate exemplary attendance, responsibility, reliability, responsiveness, and professional behavior to inspire and lead the navigation team.
• Ad Hoc Duties: Undertake other tasks as assigned by the department manager to support the goals and functions of the patient navigation team.

Qualifications

Required:

• High school diploma
• Minimum of 5 years of experience, including patient navigation in an oncology setting, social services, or a health related field, or other relevant experience
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective interpersonal interactions.
• Familiarity with community resources that provide social supports to individuals, caregivers, and families.
• Must be able to be flexible and able to rotate into all shifts including evening shift. Job may require weekend days, and evening hours for patient or other work

Preferred:

• Associate or bachelor's degree in social work, health care, or related field, OR at least two years of relevant experience in health care or social services settings.
• Experience working in healthcare preferred
• Experience in community outreach and advocacy preferred
• Proficiency in a language other than English is advantageous.
• Ability to be proactive, use strategic thinking and sound judgment to accomplish tasks.
• Improves productivity through proper time management.
• Seeks feedback from customers and team members in order to identify and improve processes and outcomes.
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility, attention to detail, and work under pressure.

The hourly pay range for this position is from $31.26 to $44.51 and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications.

This is a Full-Time (40 Hours) role working a variable schedule, primarily Monday thru Friday, which may include Evenings and Weekends. Although Fred Hutch is not sponsoring most H-1B visas at this time, candidates who already hold an H-1B sponsored by another organization and are currently in the U.S. may be eligible for this position.

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (12-22 days per year), paid sick leave (12-25 days per year), paid holidays (13 days per year), paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks).