Linkage to Care & Retention Navigator

Fenway Health's Sexual Health Clinic provides cultural responsive, judgement-free sexual health services to men who have sex with men (MSM), transgender individuals (TG), and their sexual partners. Fenway's Sexual Health Clinic regularly connects patients to medical care for HIV and for Pre-exposure profilaxix (PrEP). The Linkage to Care & Retention Navigator plays a critical role in ensuring that all patients at risk of falling out of care receive culturally competent and individualized support to promote engagement and retention in medical services.

Reporting to the Manager of the Sexual Health Progam, the Linkage to Care & Retention Navigator works with the clinic team and leads efforts to identify individuals who need further engagement in medical services, primarily: people who would benefit from PrEP, people living with HIV who are not engaged in medical care, and people needing additional support services. The Linkage to Care & Retention Navigator assures patients are linked to and retained in quality health care, prevention and essential support services, including social determinants of health programs.

Primary Responsibilities:

Provide Direct Services (in clinic)

• Screen and triage callers and clients by assessing risk for HIV, STI and viral hepatitis exposure.
• Triage patients coming to the walk-in clinic and schedule patients in Epic to see a provider and navigator.
• Discuss basic HIV prevention information and the importance of accessing care with MSM and TG.
• Provide pre- and post-test counseling to those seeking HIV testing, STI screening, viral hepatitis treatment, and PrEP/nPEP.
• Conduct HIV/HepC/STI testing, using phlebotomy.
• Provide extended or multi-session counseling sessions for HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative clients when appropriate.
• Perform health navigation for those in need, including making supported referrals to address the full spectrum of client needs, including PrEP/PEP.
• Facilitates and ensures timely delivery of HIV/HCV/STI test results.
• Facilitates and ensures timely completion and submission of ILTS forms.

Linkage to Care and Retention Activities

• Support patients in obtaining and maintaining PrEP by engaging in the following: appointment scheduling, transportation coordination, appointment accompaniment, reminder calls, PrEPDAP, and financial assistance support.
• Act as a primary support for people living with HIV who are either newly diagnosed or out of care. Provide assistance in scheduling HIV medical appointments, coordinate transportation, issue reminder calls, accompany patient to appointment if needed.
• Set patients up for patient assistance programs, including HDAP, as applicable
• Help patients enroll in MassHealth or Fenway's slide fee scale, as applicable
• Makes follow-up calls for patients newly established on PrEP or nPep to ensure they are tolerating the medication well and determine if any follow up is required.
• Maintain the PrEP list sent by Massachusetts Department of Health, with the Outreach Navigator, by contacting patients who are at risk of HIV but not on PrEP to schedule appointments for PrEP initiation.
• Assists with the linkage to social determinants of health programs including housing, rental assistance, legal services and other supportive services.
• Collaborate across the organization to provide quality care and a seamless continuum of services.
• Maintain detailed records of all contact attempts, navigation attempts, referrals, medical visits, and medication refill timelines in the EMR and in tracking database.
• Collect data for public health funder reporting requirements.
• Works collaboratively across the organization to assist clients with needed services.
• Identify potential barriers and address any immediate needs to help create a seamless process for linkage to and engagement in care.
• Communicate with DPH Epidemiologists and complete case reports for new HIV infections

Participate in Planning and Implementation of Interventions

• Participate in program planning through interdisciplinary team meetings.
• Attend continuing education seminars, staff in-services and stay abreast of relevant literature to maintain familiarity with trends in prevention services.
• Implement improvements to client flow and access to care in the clinical setting.

Meet Agency Participatory Expectations

• As required, work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends, as needed to provide services and perform outreach in ways that best reach at-risk communities.
• Adhere to all agency and departmental policies and procedures.
• Participate in quality assessment and improvement activities as requested.
• Adhere to the highest principles of patient and client confidentiality.
• Adhere to established safety policies, procedures and precautions; identify potential or actual unsafe situations in the environment and takes measures to rectify the situation.
• Attend all required meetings, in-services and professional trainings.
• Maintain professional competence necessary to perform job responsibilities; maintain and provide agency with records of continuing education activities.
• Serve on agency committees and in professional organizations when requested.
• Ensures that clinical work setting is HIPPA and OSHA compliant.

Perform related duties as required

• One to three years of relevant experience. (A Bachelor's degree may substitute for the minimum work experience required).
• Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Willingness to be trained in phlebotomy.
• Strong ability to manage clinically and emotionally challenging situations with utmost professionalism, care and discretion.
• Ability to work harmoniously with diverse groups of individuals and communities at risk for HIV, specifically men who have sex with men and transgender individuals. Ability to provide precise, well-written documentation.
• Demonstrated computer skills (Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel).
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize assigned duties.
• Strong interest in LGBT and queer health.
• Ability to meet deadlines and work within a team-based environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency in a Spanish language
• Experience providing HIV education and prevention, testing and counseling \
• Experience working in an ethnically, culturally, and racially diverse environment

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to meet the following physical requirements with or without reasonable accommodations:
• Sit at a computer station for extended periods of time.
• Ability to keyboard for extended periods of time.
• Requires handling average-weight objects up to 15-20 pounds, and occasionally assisting patients.
• May work with blood or blood-borne pathogens and require OSHA training.
• Work environment involves exposure to potentially dangerous materials and situations that require following extensive safety precautions and may include the use of protective equipment.
• Ability to travel to community events and venues such as bars and nightclubs to perform outreach activities.

We offer competitive salaries, and for those who qualify, an excellent benefits package; including comprehensive medical and dental insurance plans, and a retirement plan with employer match. We also provide 12 paid holidays, paid vacation, and more.

LGBTQIA+ identified persons, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC), and individuals from other historically underrepresented communities are strongly encouraged to apply.