Indigenous Patient Navigator

OVERVIEW

The Indigenous Patient Navigator (IPN) advocates for and supports Indigenous patients admitted to MGH and their families to facilitate culturally safe care, access to services and plan for transition at discharge. The IPN will assist patients in navigating access to translation, traditional holistic practices, non-insured benefits and transportation to improve their care experience and health outcomes. The Indigenous Patient Navigator is a key member of the interprofessional team, building collaborative relationships and enabling individuals to create holistic care plans as requested by patients and families. The IPN begins the transition process on patient admission and develops a plan for a transition out of hospital that considers the needs of the patient from a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual perspective and considers cultural, financial and social needs.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Patient Navigation and Advocacy  
-  Support Indigenous patients and families from referral to discharge by identifying needs and coordinating access to hospital services and drawing on cultural teachings and resources to help individuals create holistic care plans. 
-  Receive referrals from Emergency Department patients and inpatients who identify as First Nations, Inuit or Métis.
-  Work with MGH health care providers to facilitate access to community-based, traditional spiritual care services and resources for Indigenous patients and families. 
-  Liaise on behalf of Indigenous patients, support and facilitate communication with medical professional and other health care providers to ensure their successful access to primary services, community-based health care services and Indigenous community partner agencies. 
-  Interprets philosophy, policies, procedures and services to patients and families.
-  Collaborates with the Transition Navigation team and leverages partnership for seamless transition to community resources, legislation as it relates to Alternative Level of Care (ALC), Substitute Decision Makers Act, Public Guardian and Trustee and Public Hospitals Act to reduce patient’s length of stay and readmission rates. 
-  Is an expert resource for staff, leadership, physicians and volunteers to assist with resolving complex patient and family concerns. 
-  Promote traditional cultural practices in health and healing by facilitating access to cultural, spiritual and linguistic resources, traditional medicine and ceremony, Knowledge Keepers and Elders for patients and families who are able to gather. 
    
Patient Experience
-  Facilitates the timely resolution of patient feedback, including inquiries, complaints and compliments
-  Supports patients, families and teams who have experienced a critical incident and attends the Incident Determination (disclosure) meeting.
-  Works with individuals or departments to limit or resolve delays in service and communicates delays to patients and families. 
-  Works with the patient experience team to ensure the complaints process informs organization quality improvement initiatives. 
-  Develop and embed a safe reporting patient relations process for Indigenous patients and families.
-  Protect patient privacy

Secondary Responsibilities
-  Work with internal and external partners to develop programs, processes that positively drive system transformation
-  Build trusting relationships across the organization and the network of Toronto East Health Partners.
-  Assist in the development and distribution of culturally sensitive patient education materials. 
-  Promote culturally sensitive care, raise the cultural sensitivity knowledge of MGH providers and leadership.
-  Engage, involve and work collaboratively with Indigenous Patient Navigators from other health services to provide coordinated, patient centered care and support
-  Foster strong relationships with Indigenous-led organizations, health service partners and maintain a regional inventory of Indigenous related programs and services for patients and families. 
-  Maintains a strong relationship and alignment with TAHSN Indigenous Health Action Network
-  Participates on the Reconciliation Steering Committee and attends the Reconciliation Community Advisory Group meetings.
-  Partnering with Organizational Development and the EDIB Specialist to educate staff on Indigenous specific cultural safety, determinants of health and hospital services to support holistic care plans. 
-  Facilitate a peer group for Indigenous staff. 

EDUCATION

-  Bachelor’s degree or diploma in a related field (e.g., social work, public health, Indigenous studies) is an asset but not required; or two years of equivalent, relevant work experience in a health care field or a social service field; especially with Indigenous clients

QUALIFICATIONS

-  Demonstrated lived experience as a member of one of the constitutionally recognized Indigenous peoples of Canada (First Nations, Inuit, or Métis).
-  Experience navigating the healthcare system, including familiarity with barriers to access and culturally safe practices.
-  Strong understanding of various cultural beliefs and traditional practices.
-  Proven ability to build relationships with Indigenous communities, Knowledge Keepers, and Elders.
-  Strong knowledge, networking ability and experience working with Indigenous specific health services, practitioners and community agencies.to connect patients/families with community services. 
-  Demonstrated knowledge and skills in transition/discharge planning, conflict resolution and creative problem solving required. 
-  Experience with and supportive of traditional healing practices. 
-  Demonstrated understanding and knowledge of health equity issues specific to Indigenous populations and the impact of colonization and intergenerational trauma on health outcomes. 
-  Superior interpersonal and communications skills, written and verbal.
-  Demonstrated working knowledge of the Non-Insured Health Benefits program for Indigenous and Inuit people. 
-  Demonstrated ability to provide resource identification, referral and linking. 
-  Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a member of an interprofessional team
-  Demonstrated ability to prioritize multiple competing workload demands and work effectively in a fast paced environment required.
-  Demonstrated ability to build relationships with internal and external partners 
-  Demonstrated patient centered philosophy of care provision. 
-  Good work and attendance record required. 
-  Demonstrated assessment and therapeutic intervention with individuals, groups and families, an applied knowledge of case management/system navigation models and principles.
-  Demonstrated understanding and application of Trauma Informed Care to care planning.
-  All employees of Michael Garron Hospital, a division of Toronto East Health Network agree to work within the legislated practices of the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Ontario.
-  All employees of MGH are responsible to contribute to a transparent culture of patient and staff safety by adhering to and abiding by patient and staff safety policies and procedures set by MGH. 
-  All employees are accountable for protecting the psychological health and safety of themselves and their co-workers through adherence to MGH’s policies and practices.