Behavioral Health Care Coordinator-LICSW, Behavioral Health Patient Access

Heywood Hospital•Gardner, MA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This role focuses on providing comprehensive behavioral health services within the Emergency Department (ED) and during patient transitions. The Behavioral Health Care Coordinator (BHCC) integrates primary and behavioral healthcare, aiming to reduce idle time for patients awaiting transfer by offering assessment, crisis evaluation, suicide assessment, interventions, referrals, and therapy. The position involves close collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, including physicians, nurses, case managers, and community agencies, to ensure seamless care coordination and discharge planning. The BHCC also plays a role in utilization review and informing patients of their rights. The role requires flexibility and the ability to handle various patient needs across different hospital units upon request.

Requirements

Masters Degree in Social Service, Counseling, Psychology or related field from an accredited graduate program.
Massachusetts licensure as a LICSW or LMHC required.
Three (3) to five (5) years working with the psychiatric populations.
Experience and/or understanding of emergency department, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health needs preferred.
Current working knowledge of insurance providers and addiction experience is a plus.
Ability to work independently and/or part of a team.
Excellent verbal and written skills are required.
Demonstrated ability to clearly assess and treat psychiatric problems.
Working knowledge of community resources and how to access them.
Good knowledge of counseling and crisis intervention techniques.
Ability to relate well with people.
Ability to deal confidently with other service providers.
Tact and courtesy.
Integrity.
Good judgment.
Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability to change.

Nice To Haves

Experience and/or understanding of emergency department, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health needs.
Current working knowledge of insurance providers.
Addiction experience.

Responsibilities

Provide assessment, crisis evaluations, suicide assessment and interventions, referrals, and individual, family, and/or group therapy sessions to patients awaiting transfer.
Complete assessments fully, clearly, concisely, and timely per standards.
Provide brief interventions and support medical, behavioral health, and psychosocial interventions as part of the care team.
Keep the care team informed of progress.
Provide therapeutic intervention as needed to assist in alleviating stressors/trauma associated with acute psychological-behavioral health hospitalization.
Assist patients in managing behaviors while waiting for ED processes.
Document interventions timely and efficiently.
Complete clear and concise documentation noting patient and family participation, multidisciplinary involvement, and other planning information as required by the department, state, and federal regulation agencies, including Discharge Planning activities.
Complete a statistical record of each case closed, noting recorded hours, contacts made, and services provided, and submit closed cases to the department secretary within 24 hours post-discharge.
Stay abreast of policies and procedures, as well as state and federal regulation guidelines (e.g., JCAHO, DMH, DPH) to ensure compliance with standards.
Provide information and education to patients, families, and/or caregivers regarding the care plan.
Work closely with members of the multidisciplinary team, including physicians, patients, families, hospital staff, and community agencies regarding insurance information, discharge planning efforts, and referral sources.
Provide ESP Crisis Evaluation for hospitalized patients if the ESP provider cannot provide it within the 1-hour timeline, obtaining prior authorization from Mass Health.
Coordinate delivery of medical and/or behavioral health services through multi-disciplinary involvement.
Follow up with ESP provider for next 24-hour evaluation.
Work closely with ESP and Case Management with responsibilities for obtaining insurance authorization for admission, during hospitalization, and for any discharge planning services/aftercare.
Participate in Clinical Supervision and/or Peer review.
Keep the department director abreast of any issues, trends identified, and/or needs weekly and/or more frequently if needed.
Inform patients of their rights when indicated (e.g., discharge planning, guardianship, court commitments, admission/hospitalization, Section 12, Section 35, Advanced Directives, Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy).
Provide assessment, therapy, and intervention as needed on Watkins 1, Watkins 2, ICU, OBS upon request.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.