Patient Navigator

Prepared on May 20, 2026

Department	Wellness Center
Reports To	Health Director
Type of Employment	Full-Time
Work Hours	40 hours a week
FLSA Status	Non-Exempt
Salary	$20.00-$26.00 per hour DOQ

Summary

This position primarily serves as the Patient Navigator. The goal of the position is to reduce cancer-related illness and death in the Tribal community by improving access to culturally respectful outreach, education, screening, follow-up care, referrals, and patient support. The role works closely with SPIPA, Shoalwater Bay Wellness Center leadership, healthcare providers, clinic staff, and community partners to support screening activities, patient navigation, Women’s Wellness referrals, outreach events, documentation, and required program reporting.

Secondary duties include back-up Community Health Representative responsibilities, including community health support, care coordination, and back-up transportation for eligible patients using the Shoalwater Bay Wellness Center.

Job Description

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Include the following, other duties may be assigned.

Recruit and encourage eligible women to complete breast and cervical cancer screenings and follow-up screenings.
Help patients with like scheduling appointments, appointment reminder calls, track Women’s Wellness-related related appointments, referrals, including referral packets, consent forms, diagnostic referral documents, billing packet materials when required, appointment scheduling, provider communication, and follow-up documentation.
Act as the liaison between patients, healthcare providers, clinic staff, SPIPA NWWP staff, approved providers, and community resources to support clear communication and continuity of care.
Provide one-on-one education and outreach on cancer prevention, early detection, screening, follow-up testing, treatment options, referrals, and support services in a culturally respectful manner.
Plan, manage, and document community education and outreach events that promote cancer prevention, early detection, screening access, and overall health in a culturally respectful and trauma informed way.
Support patients with abnormal screening results, follow-up needs, diagnostic referrals, or lost-to-follow-up status by helping with appointments, reminders, transportation coordination, provider communication, documentation, and reconnection to care.
Maintain accurate records in EPIC, NWWP tracking systems, outreach logs, or other approved systems for screenings, follow-ups, abnormal results, referrals, patient contacts, care barriers, and outcomes.
Complete and submit required NWWP documents and reports to SPIPA, including screening forms, diagnostic forms, consent forms, care notes, referral documents, outreach reports, surveys, attendance logs, event forms, and other required program materials.
Participate in SPIPA NWWP Patient Navigator meetings, intertribal navigator meetings, Medical Advisory Board meetings when requested, Comprehensive Cancer Control activities, required trainings, and program travel.
Complete required patient navigation and cancer-related trainings, including ACS Leadership in Oncology Navigation and GW Cancer Center Survivorship 101, when assigned by the Health Director, SPIPA, or program needs.
Back-Up Community Health Representative Responsibilities
- Help tribal patients with care coordination like scheduling appointments, arranging transportation, providing health education, connecting to resources, and communicating with clinic staff or outside providers. Support communication between patients, families, clinic staff, and outside providers as needed.
- Backup for transportation for specialty care, including medical, dental, mental health, screenings, tests, and follow-up visits for Tribal members who do not have other transportation.
Work closely with the Assistant Health Director and Health Director as necessary.
Other duties as assigned.
Maintains current, active, CPR certification. Valid, unrestricted Washington State licensure and CEU’s as necessary.
Participates in the Tribe’s quality improvement planning activities as necessary.
Work closely with Wellness Center staff, SPIPA staff, and Tribal departments as necessary.
Observes strict patient confidentiality, as requiremented by HIPAA and any other confidentiality regulations.

Performs any additional reasonable roles and responsibilities as determined necessary by the Health Director or Assistant Health Director.

Safety:

Demonstrates knowledge of CDC, Dept. of Health, OSHA standard as it applies to the clinic environment.
Adheres to universal precautions.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by a person in this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed in such a position.

Supervisory Requirements

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

CPR certification
Ability to safely transport passengers and drive a GSA vehicle.
Ability to learn and practice safety procedures.
Ability to write reports and complete forms in a clear, concise manner.
Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
Ability/willingness to demonstrate and maintain a driving record with no moving violations.
Knowledge and ability to apply sensitivity in interacting with senior and disabled patients.
Ability/willingness to attend necessary trainings.
Transports off hours early/late
Proficient computer skills
Culturally informed

Experience and Eduction

High school diploma or general education degree (GED); or one to three months related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and comprehend instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Basic mathematical skills; addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals and fractions.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

Essential Competencies

Patient Service – Manages difficult or emotional patient situations; responds promptly to patient needs; responds to requests for service and assistance; meets commitments.

Interpersonal Skills – Focuses on solving conflict; maintains confidentiality; listens to others without interrupting; keeps emotions under control.

Oral Communication – Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and obtains clarification; responds well to questions.

Written Communication – Writes clearly and informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.

Ethics – Treats people with respect; works with integrity and ethically; upholds organizational values.

Professionalism – Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position.

Safety and Security – Observes safety and security procedures; reports potentially unsafe conditions; uses equipment and materials properly.

Dependability – Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; commits to long hours of work when necessary.

Attendance and Punctuality – Is consistently at work and on time; ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

At-Will Employment

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employee(s) will be required to follow any other job related instructions and to perform any other job related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

The employment relationship with Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe is voluntary; there is no specified length of employment. Accordingly, either the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe or the employee may terminate the employment relationship at will, with or without cause, at any time, so long as there is no violation of applicable federal or state law.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise.

Indian Preference

Indian preference will be exercised in the hiring of this position in accordance with Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe’s policy 181 within the Tribes Employee Handbook.

Benefits

After 60 days of employment

Medical
Vision
Dental
Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment coverage
Short term disability
Long term disability
Disability resources

After 90 days of employment use of

Annual Leave accrual
Sick Leave accrual
Bereavement Leave
Military Leave
Jury Duty Leave
Paid Holidays

After 1 year of employment

401K contribution

Work Location	Work on Location Premises 2373 Tokeland Rd Tokeland, WA 98590
Job Posting Valid Through	Valid until filled
Position Start Date	Immediately