DIRECT Clinic Navigator (Care Coordinator 2)

The Care Coordinator II (working title: DIRECT Clinic Lay Navigator) is the patient’s primary point of contact in the DIRECT (Diagnostic Interception and Rapid Early Cancer Testing) Clinic, the Knight Cancer Institute’s centralized outpatient front door for adults with a suspicion of cancer or a positive cancer early-detection result, including multi-cancer early detection (MCED) “signal-positive” tests. Working under the clinical direction of the DIRECT Medical Director and in close partnership with the Diagnostic Advanced Practice Provider (APP), the incumbent connects and coordinates every diagnostic step the clinician recommends (visits, laboratory tests, imaging, endoscopy, biopsy, and specialty consultation) so that each patient moves from referral to diagnostic resolution with a goal of less than 30 days.

 

This clinical role combines patient access and clinical support functions. The incumbent schedules patients and, within the scope of boundaries for medical assistants, also enters and pends orders on the clinician’s behalf per verbal order, delegation protocol, or the documented plan of care for clinician signature. The incumbent tracks every active patient against DIRECT service levels, recognizes when a diagnostic step is at risk of delay, and alerts the clinical team promptly so the plan can be adjusted.

 

The incumbent is also the primary contact for patients seeking multi-cancer early detection testing (Galleri) outside of clinical trials: completing eligibility screening, conducting a standardized informed-consent discussion, and preparing the order for clinician review and approval. The Care Coordinator II performs system-focused work that bridges gaps between OHSU departments, community diagnostic partners, referring providers, and primary care. The incumbent uses independent judgment in carrying out clinician direction, escalates anything that requires clinical judgment to the APP or Medical Director, and, as a founding member of a new clinic, helps build and refine DIRECT workflows.

Three years’ experience in a hospital or hospital based clinic setting, AND

High School diploma or equivalent, AND 

Positions with in person patient care: BLS certificate within 30 days of hire or prior to independent practice, whichever comes first, AND 

One of the following four: 

Completion of a nationally recognized accredited medical assistant training program, including a practicum (externship) of at least 160 hours, OR

Successful completion of a formal medical services training program of the United States Armed Forces, OR

Current Oregon Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) license (basic or advance) and national EMT registration with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT), OR

Current Oregon Practical Nurse License OR

For dental school hires only as an alternative to qualifications 1-4: Completion of a Dental Assistant training program and successful completion of the DANB exam

For those completing medical assistant training or formal military medical services training as referenced above in #1 and #2, the following is also required (Those qualifying under the EMT or LPN or Dental Assistant qualification are exempt from this requirement.)

MA certification received from a nationally recognized and accredited certifying body, upon hire or by the completion of the probationary period or internal job change evaluation period, as appropriate. Currently, these include: 

• The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), awarding the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA.)
• The American Medical Technologists (AMT), awarding the Registered Medical Assistant (R.M.A.)
• The National Center for Competency Testing, awarding the National Certified MA (NCMA.)
• The National Health Career Association, awarding the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA.) 

 

Any applicable certifications or licensures must be maintained for the duration of employment. 

In addition to receiving the appropriate certification noted above, Medical and Dental Assistants will be required to successfully demonstrate competencies prior to completion of probation or the internal job change evaluation period, as appropriate. 

Ability to work independently and as a member of the team, including leadership.

Knowledge of patient flow and back office functions.    Ability to effectively and efficiently perform chart scrubbing and panel outreach activities.   Demonstrated strong analytic skills, including displaying and interpreting data.  Proficiency with EPIC, Microsoft Office including Excel, Word and Power Point.  Ability to manage time sensitive competing demands and meet deadlines.  Working knowledge of medical terminology.  Strong relationship building skills, excellent communication skills, exceptional customer service skills, highly sensitive to patient needs.  Demonstrated knowledge and attention to the needs of Special Needs patients and their caregivers and families.

 

• Knowledge of patient flow and back-office functions, including chart scrubbing, pre-visit planning, and patient outreach
• Working knowledge of medical terminology, including common diagnostic tests and procedures.
• Proficiency with Epic and Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams).
• Ability to work independently with sound judgment and as a member of a small, interdependent team; recognizes the boundaries of the role and escalates appropriately.
• Ability to manage a high volume of time-sensitive, competing demands, track many open items at once, and meet deadlines with strong attention to detail.
• Strong analytic skills, including entering, displaying, and interpreting tracking data.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and customer service skills; able to explain processes and test information in plain language and to remain calm and compassionate with anxious or distressed patients.
• Strong relationship-building and problem-solving skills, with persistent, resourceful follow-through across departments and outside organizations.
• Knowledge of and attention to the needs of special-needs patients and their caregivers and families; commitment to equitable access for rural, underserved, and diverse patient populations.
• Attendance and dependability: consistent and regular attendance to work.
• Can be depended upon to complete work in a timely, accurate, and thorough manner and is conscientious about assignments.
• Medical assistant training (accredited MA program or military medical services training) with current MA certification.
• Associate degree or college coursework in a health-related field.
• Experience as a certified medical assistant, care coordinator, or patient navigator in oncology, gastroenterology, radiology, or another specialty or diagnostic clinic.
• Experience scheduling complex, multi-department diagnostic workups (e.g., imaging, endoscopy, image-guided biopsy) and coordinating referrals with outside facilities.
• Experience obtaining prior authorizations and working referral work queues.
• Experience supporting patients through cancer screening, early detection, or a new diagnosis.
• Experience with Epic Cadence (scheduling), Referrals, and work queues.
• Familiarity with cancer screening and early-detection testing, including MCED tests.
• Bilingual fluency (e.g., Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Mandarin/Cantonese, Arabic, or American Sign Language). Candidate must pass the OHSU language proficiency exam before using additional language skills in patient care encounters.
• Formal customer service, conflict management, or patient navigation training.
• Oncology patient navigation certification (e.g., AONN+ Oncology Patient Navigator–Certified Generalist, OPN-CG), or willingness to complete formal patient navigation training within the first year.

• Hybrid schedule with an estimated one day per week required on-site with the rest remote.
• Fast-paced outpatient diagnostic clinic within OHSU Radiation Medicine (Knight Cancer Institute). Weekday daytime schedule, five days a week, eight hours per day, at the OHSU Radiation Medicine clinic, Knight Cancer Institute (Kohler and Vista Pavilion), Marquam Hill campus, Portland, OR. Much of the work is conducted by telephone, MyChart, and Epic; the clinic also offers telehealth (virtual) visits as clinically appropriate.
• Manages a high volume of time-sensitive referrals, scheduling requests, pending results, and patient messages to meet defined clinic service levels. Has frequent contact with patients and families experiencing anxiety during diagnostic uncertainty; results and diagnoses are disclosed by the clinician, not by this position. Works within an interdisciplinary team and helps orient new staff to DIRECT workflows. Standard ambulatory clinical exposures during in-person visit support, including potential contact with blood and body fluids; adheres to infection prevention protocols.
• This position works with people at all levels of the organization and interacts with numerous internal OHSU departments and external customers (referring provider offices and community diagnostic partners). Shared office space requires the ability to work effectively with phone noise, simultaneous conversations, and frequent interruptions.
• This position requires the ability to sit, stand, and walk quickly throughout the hospital campus buildings, and to walk back and forth from office to clinic many times each day. Prolonged, heavy use of telephone and headset, personal computers, and OHSU’s electronic medical record systems. Requires communication in a respectful, caring, and non-judgmental manner.

 

We are Oregon's only public academic health center. In addition to caring for patients, we lead groundbreaking research. We also train the next generation of health care professionals. As Portland's largest employer, we give you opportunities to learn and advance in a system of hospitals and clinics across Oregon and Southwest Washington. All are welcome. OHSU welcomes people of all ages, ethnicities, genders, national origins, religions and sexual orientations. We are striving to build an anti-racist, multicultural institution and encourage people with diverse backgrounds to apply. To request reasonable accommodation, contact askhr@ohsu.edu