I. General Summary

The Sickle Cell Disease Nurse Navigator works with the Sickle Cell Comprehensive Care Coordination Team to coordinate the care of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and serve as an active member of our multidisciplinary care team. As part of this role, the navigator will assist with identifying patients at high risk for hospital-based services. When the navigator is present during clinical hours, they will assist with complex/high risk, transition, and lost to follow up patients with SCD. The nurse navigator will work with the Sickle Cell Nurse Practitioner to help bridge the care that patients receive as they transition between inpatient and outpatient settings. The nurse navigator will also assist with coordination of care regarding specialty visits, imaging, and outpatient visits. They will serve as the coordinator of care for any patient undergoing gene therapy evaluation and will work in conjunction with our transplant team to navigate evaluation for allogeneic stem cell transplant. The navigator will develop patient education materials and assist with metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of care delivery including patient outcomes, provider and patient satisfaction, and cost effectiveness.

II. Principal Responsibilities and Tasks:

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified:

1. Identify and build relationships with patients with SCD who receive care at UMMC.

2. Work with representatives from a multidisciplinary care team including members Division of Hematology/Oncology, Departments of Emergency Medicine, Ambulatory Care, and Internal Medicine as well as the to develop individual patient care plans for the SCD patients identified as having a high likelihood of experiencing a vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) and requiring hospital-based services.

3. Develop and deliver education to patients and providers specific to sickle cell disease.

4. Work closely with Sickle Cell Nurse Practitioner to provide care for SCD patients with complex disease.

5. Assist with medication prior authorizations and patient paperwork.

6. Assist with coordination and arranging apheresis (RBC exchange) for SCD patients.

7. Collaborate with hematologist/oncologist and Sickle Cell Nurse Practitioner regarding various SCD patients.

8. Collaborate with transplant nurse coordinators and physicians regarding potential transplant candidates preparing to undergo transplant.

9. Coordinator of care for any patient undergoing gene therapy evaluation

10. Collect data relevant to grant reporting requirements and help to prepare presentations regarding the program.

11. Assist with keeping patient engaged in care by identifying barriers to care with SCD social worker.

12. Provides support for special projects and assignments related to the SCD patient population. XIII.

Education and Experience:

1. Two or more years of relevant nursing experience required.

2. Sickle cell or hematology experience encouraged.

3. Two or more years of experience in transplant encouraged.

4. Care coordination experience preferred.

5. Licensure as a Registered Nurse in the State of Maryland, or eligible to practice due to Compact state agreements outlined through the MD Board of Nursing, is required. BSN preferred.

6. BLS required. VII.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Demonstrated effectiveness as a multidisciplinary team member promoting a healthy work environment.

2. Demonstrates the ability to utilize critical thinking skills to prioritize daily job task and care of SCD patients.

3. Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the patient population(s) served. Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and ability to assess data reflective of the patient's requirements relative to his or her population-specific and age specific needs.

4. Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and follow through on assignments and/or projects. Ability to analyze and conceptually develop ideas and proposals.

5. Ability to learn and use computer systems in order to manage patient information respecting all HIPAA regulations related to protected health information.

6. Demonstrated highly effective interpersonal, verbal, and written communication.

7. Competent skills in Epic or hospital charting system, Microsoft Office, Excel, and PowerPoint. V.

Patient Safety

1. Ensures patient safety in the performance of job functions and through participation in hospital, department, or unit patient safety initiatives.

2. Takes action to correct observed risks to patient safety.

3. Reports adverse events and near misses to appropriate management authority. Hours: This position will be a M-F with one remote day.