Patient Educator

Position Summary

The Patient Educator is responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating patient education programs that promote health, wellness, disease prevention, and treatment compliance. Working collaboratively with physicians, nurses, behavioral health providers, and interdisciplinary teams, the Patient Educator ensures patients receive accurate, understandable health information that supports informed decision-making and improved health outcomes. This position also assists with staff education initiatives and promotes compliance with organizational policies and regulatory standards.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assess patients' educational needs and develop individualized education plans based on diagnoses, treatment plans, health literacy, and learning preferences.
• Provide education regarding chronic disease management, medications, nutrition, preventive health, infectious disease prevention, and healthy lifestyle choices.
• Explain medical conditions, diagnostic procedures, treatment options, and discharge instructions using language appropriate to the patient's level of understanding.
• Develop and maintain patient education materials that are evidence-based, culturally appropriate, and compliant with organizational standards.
• Collaborate with physicians, nurses, behavioral health professionals, pharmacists, and other healthcare providers to reinforce patient education and continuity of care.
• Document all patient education activities accurately and timely within the electronic medical record.
• Evaluate patient understanding through teach-back methods and other educational assessment techniques.
• Assist with discharge planning by ensuring patients understand medications, follow-up appointments, referrals, and self-care instructions.
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives focused on patient education and healthcare outcomes.
• Assist in developing health promotion programs and wellness initiatives.
• Provide education related to infection prevention, medication adherence, chronic disease management, and preventive care.
• Support orientation and educational programs for clinical staff as assigned.
• Maintain current knowledge of evidence-based practices, healthcare regulations, and patient education standards.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with HIPAA, correctional healthcare regulations, and organizational policies.
• Participate in interdisciplinary meetings and assist with special projects as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications
Education

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing, Health Education, Public Health, or a related healthcare field required.
• Master's degree preferred.

Licensure & Certifications

• Current unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license preferred, if applicable.
• Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) preferred.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.

Experience

• Minimum of two (2) years of experience in patient education, nursing, public health, or a related healthcare setting.
• Experience in correctional healthcare, acute care, community health, or ambulatory care preferred.
• Experience developing educational materials and conducting group presentations preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of patient education principles and adult learning theory.
• Knowledge of chronic disease management and preventive healthcare practices.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to explain complex medical information in an understandable manner.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and electronic medical record (EMR) systems.
• Ability to work collaboratively within an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain patient confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Bilingual communication skills are a plus.

Organizational Expectations

• Provides a positive and professional representation of CFG Health Systems, LLC.
• Promotes a culture of safety for patients and employees through proper identification, reporting, documentation, and prevention
• Maintains competency and knowledge of current standards of practice, trends, and developments in related scope of job role or practice
• Adheres to infection control policies and protocols, medication administration and storage procedures, and controlled substance regulations
• Participate in ongoing quality improvement activities
• Completes required orientation as directed by the facility
• Follows facility and OSHA safety rules and procedures while on assignment
• Follows facility and CFG Health Systems Occurrence Protocol
• Upholds HIPAA and PREA regulations
• Punctual and dependable for assigned/confirmed shifts
• Maintains security clearance for the assigned facility

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon written request to your supervisor for individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities functions.

• May regularly be required to stand, sit, walk, reach, bend, kneel, crouch, or stretch, for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to communicate and understand written and verbal communication.
• The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.