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, other healthcare professionals, patients, and families to ensure seamless care transitions and effective treatment planning. The role also involves extensive documentation, utilization review, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.

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.
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, keeping the team informed of progress.
Conduct therapy/counseling sessions to assist in alleviating stressors or trauma associated with acute psychological-behavioral health hospitalization, and manage behaviors while patients wait for ED processes.
Complete clear and concise documentation noting patient and family participation, multidisciplinary involvement, planning information, and 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 caregivers regarding the care plan and work closely with the multidisciplinary team and community agencies.
Provide ESP Crisis Evaluation for hospitalized patients with prior authorization from Mass Health if the ESP provider cannot provide it within the 1-hour timeline.
Coordinate delivery of medical and/or behavioral health services through multi-disciplinary involvement and follow up with ESP provider for next 24-hour evaluation.
Work closely with ESP and Case Management to obtain 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 informed of any issues, trends, or needs weekly 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.