Primary Purpose
Responsible for delivering non-clinical activities that engage, educate and offer peer support to individuals, their family members, and caregivers in order to successfully connect them to culturally relevant health services, including prevention, timely treatment, recovery management, and follow-up.
MINIMUM SPECIFICATIONS
Equivalent Education and/or Experience
Certification/Registration/Licensure
American Heart Association
American Red Cross
Military Training Network
Skills or Special Abilities
Serves as a peer advocate, focusing on patients' needs, rights, confidentiality and cultural preferences. Identifies and addresses barriers to health care for health desperate populations and serves as a resource person for specific clinical and recovery care issues. Helps to negotiate desirable patient outcomes.
Serves as a liaison between provider and patient/family to facilitate communication and services. Maintains telephone contact between patients and health-care providers. Coordinates care among providers (such as screening clinics, diagnosis centers, tech labs and allied health services), physician visits and other medical appointments.
Coordinates transportation (to and from medical appointments), child-care, elder-care, and respite services. Arranges translation services as necessary.
Provides emotional support to alleviate fears of and barriers to accessing quality health care.
Assists patient, family/caregiver in completing medical, financial and other forms that are necessary for health care access and services. Assess and assists with maintaining insurance coverage and medication financing.
Motivates and educates individuals and their families/caregivers about the importance of preventive services. Provides education to improve health literacy and the understanding of medical conditions and recovery strategies.
Identifies ways to improve work processes and improve patient 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 of mental illness and/or chronic substance abuse by attending seminars, in-service workshops, reading professional journals, and maintaining certification. 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.

Parkland Health first opened its doors in 1894 and is now one of the largest public hospital systems in the country. The hospital averages more than 1 million outpatient visits annually. Services include a Level I Trauma Center, the only verified burn center in North Texas and a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The system also includes 20 community-based clinics, including primary care and women's clinics, 12 school-based clinics and numerous outreach and education programs. Parkland is the primary teaching hospital for the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Despite our growth for more than 100 years, our mission and vision remain the same – to care for you and your family. Thank you for choosing Parkland.