Job Description

Mammography Patient Navigator

This position is for a licensed Imaging Technology professional.

Primary Purpose

Navigates mammography patients throughout their breast imaging journey. Builds positive relationships with patients, family members, physicians, and other caregivers. Mammography patient navigators monitor and communicate individual patient plans of imaging care to patients, families, and Parkland staff in order to ensure efficient, cost effective, quality patient care and compliance with program/Parkland policies. Responsible for facilitating the patients' imaging needs. Responsible for coordinating imaging patient care from screening to diagnosis, treatment, and beyond. Facilitates both hospital-based or clinic-based services as well as any available community resources to support a patient's socioeconomic needs.

Education

Must be a graduate of an accredited imaging program for any of the following primary pathways:

• Radiography
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Nuclear Medicine Technology
• Sonography
• Prefer a Bachelors’ Degree in a health care field

Experience

• Must have four (4) years of progressive responsibility in Breast Imaging operations, including knowledge of procedures, workflow within assigned Breast Imaging area, quality monitoring, and general operational troubleshooting.
• Previous patient navigation experience preferred.

Certification/Registration/Licensure

• Must have a Medical Radiologic Technologist (MRT) license from TX Medical Board (does not apply to RDMS (BR))
• Certified Breast Health Clinical Navigator (BHCN) is preferred.
• Must have certification in one the following:
• American Registry of Radiologic Technologist (ARRT) certification in one of the following subspecialties:
• Mammography (M)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MR)
• Nuclear Medicine (N) or be a Certified Nuclear Medicine Technologist (CNMT) with the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB)
• Ultrasound: subspecialty of breast [by ARDMS (RDMS (BR)) or ARRT (BS)]

Must have a current Healthcare Provider CPR course completion card prior to hire and/or placement in job from one of the following:

• American Heart Association
• American Red Cross Rescuer
• Military Training Network

Skills or Special Abilities

• Must be able to demonstrate time management, organizational, interpersonal skills with emphasis on attention to detail including oral, written, communication and advanced computer skills.
• Must be able to utilize motivation interviewing skills to stress the importance of breast imaging.
• Must have the ability to instruct, lead patient education regarding breast health.
• Must be able to assist with managing follow-up visits and ensuring continuation of care.
• Must be able to demonstrate patient centered and patient valued behaviors, to include coordination of patient barriers such as transportation, childcare, and financial needs

Responsibilities

• Schedules patients for biopsies, six-month follow-up imaging and other imaging procedures as requested (as needed).
• Contacts patients that are lost to follow-up for rescheduling.
• Communicates, consults, and educates patients ensuring that patients are as comfortable as possible.
• Works with the Mobile Coordinator to ensure patients screened at the outreaches receive their follow-up imaging in a timely manner.
• Reviews EPIC daily for pathology results from biopsy and provides the results to the radiologist and RN navigators to ensure the patients are provided with their biopsy results in a timely manner (as needed).
• Conducts comprehensive assessment of patient in person, by telephone or by review of medical records. Gathers information from patient records and consults clinical team as needed. Determines financial and medical status by reviewing patient’s diagnosis, recommended treatment, funding sources and special needs according to Parkland policies and procedures. Determines other barriers that patients may have and determines resources to reduce the barriers, transportation, childcare, counselors.
• Develops patient plan of imaging care and communicates plan to patients and their families. Refers patients to identified primary care providers as needed. Oversees implementation of plan of care, schedules appointments and provides relevant clinical information to primary care/ referring provider/specialty provider to ensure quality and continuity of patient care. Completes relevant documentation, intervening to optimize use of resources for cost effective healthcare.
• Maintains proper documentation on EPIC for procedure tracking and patients that may be lost to care.
• Enter surgical pathology into Magview daily.
• Educates the patient on their diagnosis, imaging treatment plan, referral process, clinic criteria, authorization process, payor/plan coverage, funding sources and community resources available to the patient.
• Reviews referrals to primary/specialty clinics for appropriateness based on established clinic criteria. Reviews all available clinical data to ensure appropriate decision making. May facilitate required clinical and diagnostic work up to ensure that it is completed prior to approving the patient for a specialty appointment. Refers unfunded patients for financial counseling. Determines priority of appointment scheduling, contacting providers and others as needed for overbook approval.
• Serves as a patient advocate, focusing on patients’ needs, rights, confidentiality and cultural preferences. Serves as a resource person for specific clinical and patient care issues, helping to negotiate desirable patient outcomes. Serves as a liaison between provider and patient/ family to facilitate communication and services.
• Promotes collaborative practice among patients, their families and multidisciplinary health care team members by attending meetings and acting as a consultative resource to physicians and Parkland staff. Maintains a positive relationship with all Parkland internal and external customers. Assists in scheduling procedures for assigned population-based patients.
• Identifies ways to improve work processes and improve patient and physician satisfaction. Makes recommendations to supervisor, implements and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals and mission of Parkland.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws, and guidelines that impact the Mammography area. Develops effective internal controls that promote adherence to applicable state/federal laws, and the program requirements of accreditation agencies and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as necessary to ensure proper understanding.
• Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements, and trends in the field of Mammography by attending seminars, reading professional journals and maintaining ARRT certification and Texas State licensure. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.
• Participates in departmental Performance Improvement Programs, understands “ICARE” and its relationship to the work environment, attends department and modality meetings and develops plans to meet goals and objectives of Radiology Administration and Breast Imaging. Develops training and implementation and monitors annual goals and objectives set forth by Radiology Administration.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Accountabilities

• Identifies ways to improve work processes and improve customer satisfaction. Makes recommendations to supervisor, implements, and monitors results as appropriate in support of the overall goals of the department and Parkland.
• Stays abreast of the latest developments, advancements, and trends in the field by attending seminars/workshops, reading professional journals, actively participating in professional organizations, and/or maintaining certification or licensure. Integrates knowledge gained into current work practices.
• Maintains knowledge of applicable rules, regulations, policies, laws and guidelines that impact the area. Develops effective internal controls designed to promote adherence with applicable laws, accreditation agency requirements, and federal, state, and private health plans. Seeks advice and guidance as needed to ensure proper understanding.