Patient Care Specailist

Overview:

The Melanoma Network of Canada, (MNC) located in Oakville, ON, was founded in 2009 as a response to the need for patients in Canada to have a nationally-based organization that provides a strong voice for advocacy and outstanding support programs for melanoma patients and their families.

Position Summary:

This position will provide counselling and support to patients and caregivers contacting our organization. The candidate will also be responsible for the recruitment, onboarding, tracking and retention strategy for volunteers with a special emphasis on the peer support volunteer program.

  • This role will report to the Executive Director and will be responsible for working with melanoma patients to deliver compassionate care that is responsive to the needs of our community. This role will support the patient education and navigation of a cancer diagnosis and will be responsive to patient concerns and inquires. The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills, be able to utilize innovative strategies (including social media) to engage our patient and volunteer community, build meaningful relationships that will result in growing our organization. They will assist patients and their families in understanding/navigating the health care system in Canada. This candidate must actively listen to patient/family concerns and link them to internal or external resources. The candidate will have a solid background in oncology healthcare, working with cancer patients in treatment, mental health, and cancer survivorship. They are sensitive and compassionate, personable and easy to work with, a team player and have strong administration and report writing skills. The candidate is responsible for volunteer recruitment, developing orientation materials for new volunteers including volunteer policies and procedures, coordinating teams of volunteers for special events, and cultivating a positive and supportive atmosphere by recognizing volunteer efforts internally and externally.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Provide counselling and support to patients and families who contact the organization and appropriate follow up as needed.
  • Provide patients with education on navigating access to clinical trials and the drug reimbursement process.
  • Assist patients with navigating a melanoma diagnosis, recurrence or survivorship stage.
  • Document and log patient and family inquiries and concerns that come in by phone, web, and email.
  • Contribute content and monitor the patient on-line discussion forum and blog for appropriate tone and dialogue.
  • Coordinate, promote and attend patient support groups and patient information sessions.
  • Reach out to healthcare experts, patients and survivors to be spokespeople for media relations.
  • Coordinate the development of MNC educational resources, such as booklets, pamphlets and newsletters for oncology health professionals, community agencies, professional oncology associations, patients, and other stakeholders.
  • Serve as the primary liaison with the health care community and cancer treatment centres, establishing and maintaining strong relationships with oncologists, oncology nurses, and social workers across Canada and work with these HCPs to provide content for patient educational materials or speak at events, webinars or podcasts.
  • Identify volunteers across Canada, provide training and support to assist them with patient programs and on-line support, as well as special events.
  • Provide ongoing report writing of the progress and evaluation of patient program activities for the consumption of industry stakeholders and Board reviews.
  • Coordinate, participate and distribute committee meeting agendas, minutes and project deliverables.
  • Provide patient advocacy when applicable.
  • Identify and provide new resources and support services for patients.
  • Other activities deemed appropriate by the Executive Director that will support the melanoma patient community throughout Canada.

Qualifications:

Degree in counseling, social work or related healthcare-community health discipline with experience in oncology or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Bilingual is an asset.

In addition the candidate will offer:

  • Strong active listening, empathy, compassion, conflict and crisis management, and problem solving skills.
  • Minimum of 3 years’ experience working in a healthcare environment.
  • Experience in designing, developing and delivering volunteer management program.
  • Excellent communication, coaching, facilitation and presentation skills.
  • Successful track record of developing strong working relationships with volunteers, healthcare facilities and community organizations.
  • Knowledge of the oncology community and service delivery is an asset.
  • Experience working with cancer patients preferably in healthcare.
  • Strong problem solving, priority setting, decision making skills, and attention to detail.
  • Strong computer skills including advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Products (Outlook, Word, Excel, CRM Salesforce).
  • Reliable, hard-working and committed, compassionate, passionate individual who wants to make a difference in their community, and whom is accountable for their work and projects.
  • Ability to work flexible hours and able to travel overnight for meetings and presentations.
  • Must have own vehicle and driver’s license.