Hepatitis C Outreach and Linkage to Care Specialist

Central City Concern is an innovative nonprofit agency providing comprehensive services to single adults and families in the Portland metro area who are impacted by homelessness poverty and addictions. We hire people that are skilled and passionate to meet our mission to end homelessness through outcome-based strategies which support personal and community transformation.

Our Hepatitis C Elimination Program (also known as the Hep C Team) provides low-barrier trauma-informed care with a focus on harm reduction. We offer free or low-cost testing and treatment to most patients ensuring you get the care you deserve. Our outreach teams collaborate with organizations such as CODA Allied CTC and FORA Health to provide testing in the community.

This position is housed in the Central City Concern (CCC) Pharmacy and will involve the coordination of services for CCC patients in the Hepatitis C (HCV) treatment program working closely with providers patients and pharmacy staff. Hep C Outreach and Linkage to Care Specialist scope will include a unique combination of administrative research and patient care services.

This role is especially relevant for individuals pursuing opportunities for direct patient contact increased knowledge of pharmacy meeting facilitation program planning research experience and leadership opportunities. The Hep C Outreach and Linkage to Care Specialist will work closely with partner programs within Central City Concern and in the community thereby improving health outcomes and patient experience as part of a comprehensive approach to ending homelessness and achieving self-sufficiency.

Schedule:Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm

Location:Old Town Clinic (727 W Burnside St. Portland OR 97209

Compensation:Minimum rate of $24.52 per hour but can be higher depending on your experience.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED plus two years of experience working in community health including at least one year working with homeless low income or other vulnerable populations in a supportive role or working with populations living with HCV/HBV/HIV. A Bachelors degree in human/social services or closely related field (e.g. social work public or community health health sciences psychology) can substitute for one year of the required community health experience.
• Must possess a current drivers license pass a DMV background check and be designated an acceptable driver as outlined in Central City Concerns Fleet Safety Policy. Must pass an initial driver training and an annual recertification training.
• Strong cultural awareness of people who use drugs and how this may affect or influence service delivery.
• Bilingual speaker of Spanish preferred.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite including Excel preferred.
• Has the competencies necessary to deliver exemplary written and oral communications; understand healthcare-related terminology; and provide outreach engagement and supportive services.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with accountability and exercise sound judgement discretion and professionalism at all times.
• Must have current CPR certification prior to start.
• Must pass a pre-employment drug screen TB test and background check. This includes clearance by the DHS Background Check Unit.
• Must generally have the ability to bend stoop kneel squat twist reach pull and lift heavy objects and climb stairs with reasonable or no accommodation.
• Must adhere to agencys non-discrimination policies.
• Ability to effectively interact with co-workers and clients with diverse ethnic backgrounds religious views political affiliations cultural backgrounds lifestyles and sexual orientations and treat all individuals with respect and dignity.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee the program application including but not limited to patient enrollment treatment outcome education and documentation.
• Collaborate with Hep C team to establish monitor and achieve goals related to hepatitis C treatment.
• Enhance Hep C program quality and assess and improve the accessibility of HCV treatment.
• Collaborate with community partners to advance Hep C program initiatives for CCC clients and others with HCV.
• Manage referrals for Hep C services including referrals for Hep C Treatment.
• Maintain billing and insurance accuracy.
• Create organizational systems for Hep C programming including the creation of policies and procedures as needed.
• Research-specific: Schedule and implement survey tools for existing and new HCV patients. Keep track of regulatory work recruitment patient visits and retention efforts. Track regulatory work and reporting in line with Internal Review Board (IRB) requirements. Establish informed consent with patients.
• Care Coordination and Communication: Work collaboratively with the Hep C treatment team to identify potential barriers to accessing services. Participate in Outreach activities necessary to offer services and encourage participation in a non-coercive manner. This includes in-person and phone outreach to Hep C program patients who are due for labs medication dispensing and patients who have missed appointments. Update CCC and pharmacy staff of administrative or workflow changes as directed by the Senior Director of Pharmacy and/or Pharmacy Clinical Services Manager.
• Documentation: Work closely with the Medical Records Department to electronically file and index clinical information into the patients chart in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) as well as obtain process and document all necessary information and paperwork required to assist in the provision of HCV services to Old Town Clinic patients.
• Work within scope of training and experience and seek consultation when appropriate.
• Adhere to all state and federal privacy regulations including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 and to CCC policies and agreements regarding confidentiality privacy and security. Support compliance with all privacy and security requirements pursuant to community partners and outside providers patient confidentiality agreements including privacy and security requirements for EMR access. This includes immediately reporting any breach of protected health information or personal identification information of any person receiving CCC services by CCC or an outside provider to the CCC Compliance Department as well as to your supervisor or their designee.
• Contribute to and continually build a positive work environment. Maintains a positive attitude towards co-workers and patients.

PHARMACY-SPECIFIC

• Actively contributes to the planning and achievement of Pharmacy Department objectives and goals.
• Facilitates the development and implementation of new services.
• Actively contributes to the evaluation and continuous improvement of patient services policies and procedures

DESCRIPTION OF OTHER DUTIES

• Provide in-person or telephone follow-up contact to patients identified by Central City Concern for support and management of health-related issues.
• Collect information regarding patient health history current health behaviors and bio/psycho/social needs through a combination of direct interviewing records review and consultation with outside sources (after obtaining written consent).
• Provide educational information and materials to patients regarding available services in the community as well as how to appropriately access them under the direction of the Clinical Lead Pharmacist.
• Create administrative materials as directed by the Pharmacy Clinical Services Manager.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates great knowledge and skills in engaging and supporting individuals using trauma informed care and harm reduction principles.
• Ability to multi-task in a busy environment and establish priorities using organizational and communication skills.
• Ability and willingness to work within a multi-disciplinary team including interacting with healthcare providers mental health professionals and SUDS professionals.
• Ability to learn new skills and apply new skills and principles to new situations.
• Ability to track details.
• Ability to tolerate and embrace ambiguity and frequent changes in processes.
• Possess knowledge of community and social service agencies.
• Basic knowledge of healthy behaviors and the health care systems.
• Sufficient manual dexterity and physical ability to perform assigned tasks.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
• Ability and willingness to work in an environment where people may be hostile.
• Ability to manage time and meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate effectively especially in writing and courteously with the general public patients medical personnel community agencies and co-workers.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with accountability and to exercise sound judgment discretion and professionalism at all times.

BENEFITS - Central City Concern offers an incredible benefits package to our Regular/FT employees:

• Generous paid time off plan which provides up to 4 weeks of PTO accrual in the first year. Accrual increases with longevity.
• Amazing 403(b) Retirement Savings plan with competitive employer match with 4.25% in the first year 6% in the second year and 8% in the 3rd year.
• 11 recognized Holidays and 2 Personal Holidays.
• Comprehensive Medical Vision and Dental insurance coverage.
• Employer Paid Life Short Term Disability AND Long Term Disability Insurance!
• Sabbatical Program offering extended time off at years 7 14 and 21.

This description is intended to provide a snapshot of the work performed and is not designed to contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties responsibilities and qualifications required of the position.

As an agency deeply rooted in recovery part of our policy and commitment to a drug and alcohol-free workplace includes post-offer pre-employment drug screens. Please note we follow Federal Guidelines regarding prohibited substances even for those legal at the state level.

Central City Concern is a second chance employer and complies with applicable laws regarding consideration of criminal background for employment purposes. Government regulations contractual requirements or the duties of this job may require CCC to conduct a background check and take appropriate action to address prior criminal convictions.

Required Experience:

Unclear Seniority