San Francisco Bay Area Patient Navigator and Related Occupations Summit

The job responsibility of a Patient Navigator is defined by the healthcare system or employer creating the position. In the San Francisco Bay Area, job categories that are often synonymous with the Patient Navigator include Health Promotore, Health Coach, Community Health Worker and Patient Care Partner. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and the transformation of health care delivery to patient centered care, have increased demand for entry level positions providing culturally competent navigation services through the complex health care system.  Growth in the sector has created some ambiguity and overlap in required skill sets, position descriptions and titles. This was illustrated most recently by identical positions created by the Federal Government and Covered CA with different titles.

Creating a pathway for individuals looking to start or further their careers in healthcare is not possible without clarity on employer expectations, and job requirements for navigators and related occupations. The challenge for academic institutions has been to create appropriate curriculum and training to meet diverse employer needs. The Patient Navigation Summit is an opportunity for educators and employers to better align the training of patient navigators with the roles and responsibilities required in the field.

Join us for the San Francisco Bay Area Patient Navigator and Related Occupations Summit, an event that will kick-start a process to define employer driven knowledge, skills and abilities for Patient Navigators and related positions. Reactions and findings will inform participating academic institutions in the development of core curriculum and in the creation of career pathways.

Summit Outcomes

1. Describe the changing healthcare system and the role of patient centered care.
2. Discuss the employment outlook for patient navigators and related occupations.
3. Through employer engagement define the knowledge, skills, and abilities or competencies required of Patient Navigators and related positions.­
4. Determine if core competencies exist within patient navigator and similar positions.
5. Convene employer and education work groups to continue the work of transferring employer recommended competencies to curriculum and career pathways.