Behavioral Health Care Coordinator-LICSW, Behavioral Health Patient Access

Heywood Hospital•Gardner, MA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Care Coordinator (BHCC) plays a crucial role in providing comprehensive care to patients within the Emergency Department (ED) who are awaiting transfer or further behavioral health services. This position focuses on integrating primary and behavioral healthcare, offering assessment, crisis evaluation, suicide assessment and intervention, referrals, and therapy sessions to reduce idle time and improve patient outcomes. The BHCC works as part of a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals to ensure seamless care transitions and effective treatment planning. The role also involves extensive documentation, utilization review, and communication with patients, families, and external agencies.

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.
Ability to work independently and/or part of a team.
Excellent verbal and written skills.
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

Addiction experience is a plus.

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 patient progress.
Provide therapeutic intervention as needed to assist in the alleviation of stressors/trauma associated with acute psychological-behavioral health hospitalization.
Assist patients in managing behaviors while awaiting 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 (i.e., 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.
Coordinate with 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.
Focus on diagnostic and functional evaluation, problem-solving, and recommendations for treatment and forming limited behavioral change goals.
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 as needed timely and accurately.
Participate in Clinical Supervision and/or Peer review.
Keep 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.