Senior Patient Advocate

The Family Practice & Counseling Network (FPCN) is a federally qualified health center that is a program of Resources for Human Development (RHD), a multi-faceted Philadelphia-based nonprofit. Since it opened in 1992, the FPCN has grown and developed in response to need and demand by the communities served, from the original converted apartment space within the Abbottsford public housing development to a network of four health centers – Abbottsford-Falls Family Practice & Counseling in Northwest Philadelphia, Steven and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Center of Drexel in North Philadelphia, the Health Annex in Southwest Philadelphia, and the Annex West Health Center – as well as a new initiative School Based Health Center Collaboration. Network services are targeted to public housing residents and people from the surrounding communities and primary care services are provided by nurse practitioners, with the assistance of nurses, medical assistants, midwives, diabetes educators, dieticians, outreach workers, social workers, and specialists. The Network is licensed to provide behavioral health services and provides oral health services, and these are fully integrated with primary care. Steven and Sandra Sheller 11^th Street Family Health Services has been trained in Sanctuary Model and adheres to the seven commitments: nonviolence, emotional Intelligence, social learning, open communication, democracy, social responsibility, and growth and change. All of FPCN is committed to providing patient centered trauma informed care with an antiracist lens.

The mission of the Stephen and Sandra Sheller 11th Street Family Health Services is to provide quality, comprehensive health services to the clients it serves, with special attention to vulnerable people and residents of public housing units in the 11th Street Corridor. In addition to its direct services mission, 11th Street provides an exemplary model of nurse-managed, community-based care for the education of health professions students and for faculty practice.

The Center’s target population is the residents of the four public housing developments in the 11th Street corridor where residents have a median family income of $15,000. Although due to word of mouth, patients come from all over the city of Philadelphia. Residents of these housing developments have a high burden of illness from above average rates of diabetes and adverse childhood. The member will serve with our older adult population to assist them in working through the social determinates of health and setting services in place to enhance their ability to live longer, healthier, independent lives in their homes and communities. As the member advocates for the patient, we will see greater outcomes and stability for our older adults.

• Screening patients for health concerns and eligibility
• Following-up with patients to ensure documentation is completed
• Providing education on how to complete paperwork
• Brief health education to patients
• Coordinating with other programs to provide health classes
• Following up with companies to verify application status
• Attending meetings and patient huddles
• Conducting outreach to patients via phone/letters
• Creating social service resource guides and lists for clients
• Counseling clients on how to access social services and benefits
• Registering patients as well as  providing follow-up social service navigation
• Finding additional community resources and programs for patients
• Social determinates of health screen and service linkage
• co-facilitating a social justice group to help meet the wants and needs of community through programing.

• Comfortable with diversity
• Proficient computer and data entry skills (e.g. Microsoft Excel)
• Multi-tasker; ability to balance
• Good communication skills
• Outgoing
• Open-minded
• Non-judgemental
• Takes initiative
• Organized; sound organizational skills
• Good customer service
• Good telephone skills
• Flexible
• Team player

• Knowledge of AmeriCorps/Health Corps member requirements
• Skill with Microsoft Office or other software for a variety of data processing operations involving a range of problem solving, record keeping, correspondence, and service tracking options

• The supervisor assigns service activities, advises on changes in procedures, and is available for assistance when required.

• The Member independently plans and carries out the projects and selects the approaches and methods to be used in solving problems.

• Guidelines are generally applicable, but the Member independently makes adaptations in dealing with problems and unusual situations.

• The service position assignments vary significantly or often involve unusual circumstances and incomplete or conflicting data.

• The service position product or services affect the social, physical, and economic well-being of a substantial number of people on an ongoing basis.

• Clients; serving patients to assess needs and assist with connecting them with resources

• To resolve problems or arrive at compromise solutions with people who have different view points, goals, or objectives.

• Special safety regulations or precautions that must be observed
• Masks continue in health centers, even when mandates end in other public places.
• Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination must be produced upon hire.