The Indigenous Patient Navigator will work in collaboration with primary care, community health and a broad range of other relevant services to facilitate provision of multidisciplinary care for Indigenous people. The Indigenous Patient Navigator will play a key role in supporting Indigenous clients during their admission to the Lloydminster Hospital as well as during the discharge process.

The Indigenous Patient Navigator serves as a liaison between patients, healthcare providers, including specialty providers, and service agencies to reduce barriers to care and assure the patient receives the care that they need when they need it. The Indigenous Patient Navigator will ensure the cultural and traditional needs of the client are equally considered factors when developing their health plan during their duration at the Hospital as needed.  The Indigenous Patient Navigator also serves as a patient advocate and assists in identification and improvement of service delivery. This position requires expertise in coordinating care and managing caseloads. 

Job Duties:

Case Planning

·         Collaborate with other health care professionals to assess the health literacy of the client and coordinate and develop a case management strategy.  

·         Provide guidance/advice/direction and support to all levels of health care team and management with respect to specific case/client situations during and after hospital stay.

·         Serves as an essential link between patients and all other care providers.

·         Linking client to community supports and advise of various programs and services that may contribute to enhanced care.

Patient Advocacy

·         Represents patient/family by advocating, intervening, negotiating and promoting their concerns.

·         Identify barriers when treatment goals are not met, or when treatment plan is not being followed.

·         Consult with the medical staff, nursing staff and ancillary department staff to eliminate barriers to the efficient delivery of care.

·         Identify service delivery problems and potential for effective patient management intervention.

Patient And Staff Support

·         Assist with and facilitate the transition of care from inpatient setting to home.

·         Support nursing staff in providing individual patient/family education and self-management support that is appropriate based on language, cognitive abilities, literacy level, learning style, cultural norms, patient preference, readiness for change and resources available

·         Support nursing staff in goal planning and care management.

·         Assists patients in understanding their diagnosis, treatment options, and the resources available.

·         Follows patients through the care continuum, including inpatient admissions and discharge planning, and collaborates with inpatient care management resources.

·         Maintain resource list of current programs and services.

·         Maintains a comprehensive resource and referral system. Collaborates with community partners to ensure resources remain up-to-date.

·         Coordinate transportation for FN clients back to community when needed.

·         Daily visits to clients/wards.

·         Reports to supervisor, in a timely manner, any unsafe activities, conditions, hazards, or safety violations that may cause injury to oneself, patients, or other partners.

·         Language translation when needed.

·         Follow up with community agency within first week of discharge.

Job Qualifications:

·         Bachelor of Science in Nursing Degree preferred; Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) minimum.

·         Minimum of two years’ experience working in a First Nations health care capacity.

·         Must have current practicing registration with appropriate licensing body. (SK & AB licensed)

·         The ability to fluently speak and understand a Frist Nations language is an asset.

Knowledge, skills & Abilities

·         Will have a thorough understanding of First Nation and Metis culture and spiritual values, such as: Kinship systems, relationship between spiritual and cultural values and their role in health; Cultural diversity.

·         Knowledge of the local healthcare environment and local community resources

·         Requires problem solving, decision making and critical thinking. Ability to strategize, organize and     plan

·         Excellent leadership, organizational, written and verbal communication and excellent interpersonal skills.

·         Ability to relate to people like and different from self and practice supportive and active listening.

·         Ability to support patients during an intensive emotional state (examples include angry, sad, frustrated, etc.).

·         Ability to support patients with mental illness and substance use disorders.

·         Must be able to work in a self-directed environment, with ability to work with and lead teams.

·         Ability to consistently present clear professional identity and purpose.

·         Ability to maintain flexibility and emotional stability while working under intense emotion, time and volume pressure.

·         Ability to work independently within established guidelines; coordinate service delivery with partners; maintain confidential information; perform multiple tasks simultaneously; coordinate work schedule to achieve maximum productivity/effectiveness; exercise judgment, tact and diplomacy.

·         Aware of scope of practice boundaries, comfortable seeking direction and assistance from appropriate resources.

·         Proficient ability to use a computer and electronic medical record.

·         Maintain patient, team member and employer confidentiality.