Q. What is a Personal Health Navigator (PHN), also known as a Navigator (NAV)?

 

A Personal Health Navigator (PHN), sometimes referred to as a Navigator (NAV), is a type of Traditional Health Worker (THW) certified by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA).

 

A PHN is an individual who meets the qualification criteria adopted by the Authority under ORS 414.665 and provides information, assistance, tools, and support to help patients make the best health care decisions based on their individual circumstances, needs, lifestyle, combination of conditions, and desired outcomes.

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Q. How is a Personal Health Navigator different from a Community Health Worker?

• Personal Health Navigators operate within the health care system and often have access to medical records for members of that system. They help with referrals, appointments, prior authorizations, locating doctors or specialists, understanding health insurance benefits, and connecting individuals to resources such as housing, food, and transportation. They also advocate for patients within the care team.

• Community Health Workers are frontline public health workers who are closely connected to the communities they serve. They may share similar backgrounds, languages, or lived experiences with the people they support. They meet people where they are and work broadly in community settings. Their work may include health education, connecting people to resources, supporting chronic disease management, attending medical appointments with individuals, and helping people navigate benefits. Access to medical records varies depending on the setting.

• Both roles complement each other and can work collaboratively to help individuals access, navigate, and benefit from the health care system.

 

Q. What does the FolkTime/OHCC Personal Health Navigator Training schedule look like?

 

This 7-week training course will be held entirely online, with Zoom sessions scheduled on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00 AM–1:00 PM. A 15-minute break is built into each 4-hour session. This training will bring together participants from across the state of Oregon.

 

Q. What topics are covered in the FolkTime/OHCC Personal Health Navigator training?

 

Here are some of the topics covered:

• Professional Conduct

• Public Health and Health Promotion

• Motivational Interviewing

• Communication Strategies

• Social Determinants of Health

• Professional Boundaries

• Access to Care and the Health Care System

• Health System Navigation practice through real-life scenarios

 

Q. What is the attendance policy for the course?

 

Participants may miss up to 4 total hours of the 80-hour course. Any missed hours must be made up with a trainer, outside of class time, before graduation. If you anticipate missing more than 4 hours, please contact us right away so we can discuss your options. Please review the training dates and ensure you are able to attend all sessions BEFORE registering for the training program.

 

Because this is a virtual training, participants are expected to keep their cameras on during all sessions in order to receive participation credit. This helps create a more engaging and connected learning environment. We also require full participation in all activities and breakout rooms, as these are a critical part of the online training experience. If trainers have to ask you more than twice about your camera use or participation, you may be marked as absent, which could impact your ability to graduate with your cohort.

 

Q. What will the FolkTime/OHCC Personal Health Navigator training help me with?

 

Upon successful completion, graduates will be eligible to submit their certificate to the Oregon Health Authority’s Traditional Health Worker Registry to become certified as Personal Health Navigators.

 

The training will help you build the skills needed to act as a bridge between individuals and the complex health care system. It provides a foundation of skills that you can continue to develop and strengthen on the job. This training program remains the first and only Personal Health Navigator (PHN) curriculum approved in Oregon.

 

Q. Where do Personal Health Navigators usually work?

 

Personal Health Navigators commonly work in clinics, insurance provider offices, or within a broader health care system. They serve as community resource experts and health care advocates.

 

Q. What job titles might a Personal Health Navigator have?

 

Here are some job titles we found in the current Oregon job market:

• Patient Navigator

• Health Navigator

• Care Coordinator

• Medical Case Navigator

• Community Health Navigator

• Resource Specialist