COVID-19 Responder/Opioid Safety Coordinator

Position Starts on August 29th, 2022.

All of the SFDPH positions listed will – in addition to the unique responsibilities described for each position – work as part of a COVID-19 team to conduct several components of contact investigation, contact tracing, and COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Activities will include: calling patients with a new diagnosis and obtaining demographic information, sharing guidance for self-isolation, facilitating referrals and linkage to services for medical and basic needs, and obtaining a list of close contacts from the patient. After the initial call, NHC members will follow up with COVID-19 positive patients to conduct wellness checks and facilitate referrals and linkage to services as needed. NHC members will also conduct outreach to patients eligible for COVID-19 immunization, ensuring that patients receive accurate information while receiving feedback from the patients. Members would also have the opportunity to assist COVID-19 Vaccination Sites in traffic flow direction, 2nd dose and booster scheduling, and eligibility criteria confirmation.

The COVID-19 Responder/Opioid Safety Coordinator will, in addition to the above direct COVID-19 activities, work to address population health of patients including specific needs that arose or increased while primary focus has needed to be on slowing the spread of COVID-19. The COVID-19 Responder/Opioid Safety Coordinator will focus on the unmet needs related to chronic pain monitoring, including implementing health coaching for pain management, expanding the use of telephonic opioid safety agreements, and training on registry use to monitor patients taking controlled medications. 

In this position, the member will also focus on unmet needs related to preventive cancer screening, chronic disease control, behavioral health, pediatric immunizations, and other needs by conducting outreach to patients to address overall care gaps, provide coaching, education and additional resources aligned with patient needs and safety, and help refer/schedule visits with clinic staff in person or by phone.  

COVID-19 Response Responsibilities

• Communicating with patients newly diagnosed withCovid-19
• Maintaining professional boundaries and respecting patient confidentiality
• Collecting and recording information on patients
• Providing cases with information about quarantine procedures
• Referring patients to social and support services
• Following established scripts to provide information to patients
• Attending meetings with host site staff as needed
• Conducting outreach to patients with unmet needs
• Providing health coaching for patients
• Working closely with staff and leadership
• Identifying gaps and implementing new workflows
• Engaging patient advisors to improve patient experience
• Participating in patient care and education
• Greeting and intaking patients in person and at testing and/or vaccination sites
• Providing administrative and logistical support
• Participating in health and awareness campaigns
• Creating communications, flyers, and graphics
• Obtaining feedback to improve communications
• Developing and providing community education

Outreach Responsibilities

• Creating and developing communications related to outreach campaigns
• Obtaining feedback to improve on communication materials
• Developing and providing health education for the community
• Providing outreach to stakeholders to identify issues
• Gathering data on critical issues impacting the community
• Collecting, recording, and evaluating data to inform education on health issue
• Providing education to clients and refer them to providers
• Providing health education to at-risk populations
• Attending trainings and/or community events
• Maintaining educational materials in waiting/examination rooms
• Responding to and tracking requests through online services
• Developing and distributing new materials geared towards patients, clients, and/or organizations
• Creating basic curriculum and revisiting and revising it
• Developing and maintaining monthly inventory reports
• Conducting interviews of community to adjust curriculum
• Providing outreach in the community to promote services
• Linking clients from community organizations to services
• Targeting groups that have a high number of clients
• Meeting with referral staff to ensure that clients receive
• Meeting with referral staff to ensure that clients receive services
• Developing and conducting needs assessment through focus groups
• Assessing and reporting on existing services in the target area
• Creating and implementing surveys to assess program effectiveness
• Developing new program materials to aid reach, scope,and effectiveness
• Linking individuals and treatment services via education and by serving as a point of contact for community-based agencies
• Developing educational materials
• Collecting and tracking of data
• A percentage of duties of this role will be serving as a substance use navigator to clients seeking services for substance use disorders within primary care, most of which are for the treatment of opioid use disorder. Attending the primary care clinics to meet clients face-to-face will be key to building trusting relationships with clients. Additional duties include answering communications (calls/texts) from clients to assist them in troubleshooting their requests and getting their service needs met. Finally, as the substance use navigator, you will be responsible for tracking and maintaining registries to be used for outreach to support ongoing engagement in care. Another aspect of this position if serving as an outreach coordinator and coach for a large population of patients in our network who are seeking healthcare services. This may include outreach efforts related to diabetes, hypertension, asthma, routine immunizations, and cancer prevention care as examples. Developing and providing patient and staff educational materials as well as providing motivational coaching to clients are examples of some of the activities members will have the opportunity to participate in.

• Understanding of/Willingness to learn about the community
• Compassionate, Curious, Respectful, Open-minded
• Can manage time independently; Can work efficiently
• Multi-tasker; Detail-Oriented
• Proficient computer and data entry skills (e.g., Microsoftsuite)
• Good interpersonal skills; Ability to interact professionally; Good listener; Works well with others
• Ability to interact empathetically with diverse individuals
• Ability to handle confidential information
• Experience working with patient populations
• Excellent customer service; Good telephone skills
• Flexible,
• Speaks language(s) spoken by patient populations
• Knowledge of health-related issues
• Able to serve in a fast-paced environment
• Organized; sound organizational skills
• Knowledge of electronic health records
• Medical/clinical experience
• Commitment to social justice; Desires to empower community
• For the COVID response and vaccine outreach, we value individuals who have experience and confidence in speaking with patients/clients in a respectful and inquisitive manner to disclose results, outreach for vaccination (and provide education via a script as needed.
• This role will primarily be working with clients one-on-one. Substance use navigation responsibilities trickle in throughout the week, thus multi-tasking will be important for this person.

• 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
• For the role of substance use navigator, the most important skill is not in knowledge, but in non-judgmental, caring, and open communication.

• Special dress code
  • When members are working on site in clinical areas, they are expected to dress in professional (no ripped clothing, semi-professional attire) and safe (closed toed shoes) attire.

Not Required; Highly Desired: Language Proficiency in Spanish, Cantonese, or Mandarin (All Other Languages Also Welcome)