Referral Coordinator

Thank you for your interest in career opportunities at Central City Concern!

Since 1979, the Portland Community has trusted Central City Concern (CCC) to help people create meaningful, long-term change. Every year, we serve more than 13,000 people experiencing, or at risk-of, homelessness with affordable and supportive housing, person-centered health care, addiction recovery and employment assistance. By providing health care, housing and jobs, CCC is ending homelessness in Portland and helping people achieve their highest potential. 

Now Hiring: Join Central City Concern as a Referral Coordinator

Location: Central City Concern - Blackburn Center (12121 E. Burnside Street, Portland, 97216)

Schedule: Monday - Friday; 8:00am - 5:00pm

Reports To: Client Access Operations Manager

SUMMARY: 

The Blackburn Center is an innovative program that will offer integrated housing, health care, and employment services with the long term goal of eliminating homelessness. We seek to change how these services are delivered to all people, especially vulnerable populations.

This position will work as a member of a multi-disciplinary team at the Blackburn Center to deliver comprehensive, person-centered, integrated services to the Portland Eastside community. The Referral Coordinator is responsible for coordinating specialty care for patients in need of external consultation and/or medical equipment devices as requested by the primary care provider.  They are responsible for scheduling, tracking, and reporting on referrals.  The Referral Coordinator will provide trauma informed referral case management while exercising utmost discretion, diplomacy, and tact in patient interactions.  They will act as liaison between Blackburn and specialty clinics.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Work as a member of the Blackburn Center multi-disciplinary team to deliver comprehensive, client centered and trauma informed integrated services.
2. Actively participate in the integration of services at the Blackburn Center and identify new opportunities to improve collaboration between and within service and care teams while carefully following information-sharing guidelines.
3. Proactively identify opportunities for improvement within Blackburn Center workflows and logistics. Participate in review of Blackburn Key Performance Indicators; review and contribute to continuous improvement opportunities and plans.
4. Build understanding of and appreciation for diversity among Blackburn Center clients and support their connection to culturally responsive and culturally specific services as requested.
5. Process patient referrals to specialty services and for durable medical devices.
6. Obtain authorizations for patient referrals to specialist, diagnostic testing, procedures, and DME (durable medical equipment). Advise primary care provider if request is denied.
7. Coordinate specialty referrals and financial assistance for uninsured clients.
8. Assemble information concerning patient’s clinical background and referral needs, providing appropriate clinical documentation and authorizations to specialist prior to patient’s appointment.
9. Ensure that referrals are addressed in a timely manner, prioritizing urgent items immediately.
10. Process insurance authorizations for Acupuncture and Occupational Therapy services offered internally in collaboration with the billing department.
11. Coordinate the usage of community-sponsored grants for exceptional patient services as they are offered.
12. Assist patients in scheduling appointments with specialty providers or services.
13. Review details and expectations about the referral with patients.
14. Act as point of contact and provide direct access to patients and providers with questions or concerns around specialty referrals or durable medical equipment.
15. Assist patients in problem solving potential issues related specialty appointments such as transportation or rescheduling appointments.
16. Establish and maintain relationships with identified specialty providers and services.
17. Input and track all referrals in EMR system.
18. Review and maintain monthly referral tracking report to ensure referrals have been completed and consult reports have been received, reviewed by primary care provider and entered into patient’s EMR.
19. Outreach and follow up on any incomplete referrals
20. Utilize EMR/EHR online portals to local hospital systems in order to track referral progress and retrieve consult reports.
21. Communicate with clinical care teams to keep them abreast of specific patients and changes in processes to referrals.
22. Educate clients, support staff and providers about referral processes and updates.
23. Participate in compliance, quality assurance and quality improvement activities.
24. Adhere to all state and federal privacy regulations, including HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2, and to CCC policies and agreements regarding confidentiality, privacy, and security.  Support compliance with all privacy and security requirements pursuant to community partners’ and outside providers’ patient confidentiality agreements, including privacy and security requirements for EMR access.  This includes immediately reporting any breach of protected health information or personal identification information of any person receiving CCC services by CCC or an outside provider to the CCC Compliance Department, as well as to your supervisor or their designee.
25. Attend all mandatory CCC trainings in a timely manner.
26. Perform other duties as assigned.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

1. Ability to consider the impacts and outcomes for underserved communities during decision-making processes.
2. Ability to consider impacts of systems of oppression, structural racism, and individual bias on client outcomes.
3. Ability to effectively interact with populations of patients with an understanding of their needs for self-respect and dignity.
4. Ability to effectively calm patients and deal with distressed and/or agitated patients.
5. Ability to be highly motivated, work independently as well as a member of the team, make decisions, and work in a fast-paced, stressful environment.
6. Excellent organization skills with strong attention to details.
7. Knowledge of medical terminology and medical insurances
8. Strong computer skills and ability to quickly learn new software/programs
9. Ability to multi-task and prioritize work while meeting deadlines.
10. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with patients, providers, co-workers and outside specialty services
11. Demonstrate a high tolerance for ambiguity and change.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. High School diploma or GED required. Prefer Bachelor’s Degree or higher in health or social service related field of study.
2. One year experience in referrals or outreach in a medical setting.
3. Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
4. Understand medical related terminology.
5. Perform confidently with computer software.
6. Spanish language fluency preferred.
7. Must have current CPR certification prior to start.
8. Must be able to occasionally lift items of approximately 10 pounds, stoop, kneel, and climb stairs on a regular basis.
9. Must have a high tolerance for ambiguity and change.
10. Ability to adhere to Central City Concern’s drug-free workplace which encourages a safe, healthy and productive work environment and strictly complies with the Drug-Free Work Place Act of 1988. An employee shall not, in the workplace, unlawfully manufacture, distribute, dispense, possess or use a controlled substance or alcohol.
11. Must pass a pre-employment drug screen, TB test, and background check. This includes clearance by the DHS Background Check Unit.
12. Must adhere to agency’s non-discrimination policies.
13. Must be able to effectively interact with co-workers and clients with diverse ethnic backgrounds, religious views, political affiliation, cultural backgrounds, life-styles and sexual orientations and treat individuals with respect and dignity.

BENEFITS at CCC

Central City Concern offers incredible benefits to our employees. We offer an extensive total rewards package to include base wages, medical, dental, vision and voluntary plans. Central City Concern also takes employees’ financial wellness into consideration and provides a rich retirement match. In the spirit of inclusivity, we celebrate 11 holidays and have a generous paid time off (PTO) plan.

• Generous paid time off plan beginning at 4 weeks per year at the time of hire. Accrual increases with longevity.  
• Amazing 403(b) Retirement Savings plan with an employer match of 4.25% in your 1st year, 6% in the 2nd year, and 8% in your 3rd year! 
• 11 paid Holidays 2 Personal Holidays to be used at the employee’s discretion. 
• Comprehensive Medical, Vision, and Dental insurance coverage. 
• Employer Paid Life, Short Term Disability, AND Long-Term Disability Insurance! 
• Sabbatical Program offering extended time off at years 7, 14, and 21.

Central City Concern is a second chance employer and complies with applicable laws regarding consideration of criminal background for employment purposes. Government regulations, contractual requirements, or the duties of this particular job may require CCC to conduct a background check and take appropriate action to address prior criminal convictions.