Overview
Category:Administration Support/Customer Service
Employment Type:Part time
Work Location:Remote: 100% off site
This position works within the Bona Lab in the Pediatric Outcomes research program. The Bona Lab’s research portfolio focuses on improving childhood cancer outcomes by systematically considering social determinants of health as risk factors in the clinical trial setting and identifying potential targets for intervention. The Benefits Counselor will lead the benefits-related aspects of multiple research studies, including the Pediatric RISE guaranteed income intervention for families of children with cancer which includes the provision of individualized benefits counseling.
Working under the supervision of the Pediatric Outcomes Research Manager and the Principal Investigator the Benefits Counselor will also support the development, implementation, and maintenance of new research protocols which will include benefits counseling and support for medically underserved patient populations to improve their cancer care outcomes.
Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow’s physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.
This position’s work location is fully remote, never on campus. The selected candidate may only work remotely from a New England state (ME, VT, NH, MA, CT, RI).
Responsibilities
- Provides individualized benefits counseling in protocolized research context to study participants to facilitate participant understanding of research participation impact on individual family benefits
- Creates and provides research-quality resources to study participants, including but not limited to individualized benefits guides, documentation outlining guaranteed income (GI) payment exclusions, etc.
- Assists participants with communicating GI payment exclusions to their benefit caseworkers as needed
- Manages claims from study participants who experience adverse events regarding their benefits due to study participation and collaborates with partner organization responsible for distribution of hold harmless funds
- Conducts research & outreach to identify benefit programs and protections that exist throughout the United States to inform the development of new research protocols and interventions
- Works with benefit administrators nationally to request and negotiate application of existing and new benefit protections
- Creates individualized benefit guides/toolkits for collaborating sites on multi-center trials, outlining which benefits will be impacted, action steps for reporting, and possible consequences if participants do not report income accurately
- Tracks and follows patient interactions via appropriate documentation policies and procedures
- Works with clinical and research staff to track study metrics
- Identifies system and/or organizational barriers to implementing study intervention and recommends strategies for improvement
- Works closely with appropriate staff throughout the healthcare system to successfully conduct research study procedures
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required. Graduate degree in related field preferred (Social Work, Public Policy, etc.)
- A minimum of 5-years of experience required
- Experience working with patients and clinicians required
- Certification in benefits counseling and/or background as a benefits counselor required
- Oncology experience a plus
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
- Knowledge of the communities served, the local health system and community resources a plus
- Excellent communication and organization skills
- Ability to maintain patient confidentiality at all times
- Ability to follow documented policies and protocols for all patient interactions/contacts
- Strong attention to detail
- Ability to work independently, as well as in groups
- Experience working with diverse populations
- Technical skills/computer savvy
At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are equally committed to diversifying our faculty and staff. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and diverse professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other groups as protected by law.
