Behavioral Health Consultant - Remote - Full Time

Highmark Health • PA, Working at Home - Pennsylvania, PA

2d • Remote

About The Position

A Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) is a vital member of the core healthcare team, dedicated to enhancing the overall health of enrolled populations. The BHC focuses on improving the recognition, treatment, and management of psychosocial/behavioral problems and medical conditions. They provide clinical mental health consultation services, within the scope of their professional licensure, to patients referred by the care team. Responsibilities include managing the psychosocial aspects of chronic and acute diseases, applying behavioral principles to address lifestyle and health risk issues, and consulting on the treatment of mental disorders and psychosocial issues. The BHC serves as the team's expert in mental health and substance abuse assessment, intervention, and facilitating connections to higher levels of care when necessary.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in a Mental Health Field
• 2 years of experience in the use of evidence-based counseling techniques, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of common mental health and substance abuse disorders
• Knowledge of the relationship between medical and psychological aspects of health and disease
• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) or Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFT) - for out-of-state license transfers, allow 60 days from hire to transfer license
• CPR – American Heart Association
• Act 34 Criminal Background Clearance Certificate
• Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance Certificate
• Act 73 FBI Fingerprinting Criminal Background Clearance Certificate

Responsibilities

• Acts as a core care team member to develop specific clinical pathways or best practice programs for targeted patient groups.
• Participates in practice staff meetings and trainings.
• Provides education and support on behavioral health, substance abuse, and psychosocial needs to multidisciplinary team members during treatment planning.
• Participates in daily huddles to identify behavioral health, substance abuse, and psychosocial needs.
• Provides population-based care to high-risk/high-need patients based on registry data.
• Serves all enrollees, not just those with diagnosable mental disorders.
• Participates in system-wide BHC learning collaboratives.
• Promotes ongoing change efforts within the practice and AHN health system regarding mental health and substance abuse disorders.
• Documents in the shared medical record, ensuring visibility for providers and team members.
• Engages patients via telephone and in person.
• Provides immediate support, including assessment, intervention, and referrals to higher levels of care for mental health and addiction needs.
• Sees patients immediately after other team members, often in the exam room or a nearby consult room, encouraging patient participation in the treatment plan.
• Provides therapeutic counseling services appropriate for the ambulatory care environment using 15-30 minute interventions.
• Identifies functional outcomes and makes recommendations for occupational, social, familial functioning, home activities, and recreation.
• Treats patients with short-term interventions using a 'treat to target' approach with solution-focused methods, CBT, Motivational Interviewing, and other short-term counseling techniques.
• Coordinates with patient family members and support systems (with patient permission).
• Provides brief follow-up, including relapse prevention education.
• Promotes skill-building for psychological and physical health, sometimes in group formats.
• Helps patients in crisis meet urgent mental health and substance abuse needs.
• Triage and refers patients to specialty mental health and substance abuse services when appropriate (e.g., Childhood trauma, IOP, inpatient hospitalization, PTSD, psychiatry).
• Advocates for patients who may be perceived as difficult to work with or 'non-compliant'.
• Reaches out to patients who are not engaging (usually via phone) to re-engage them in their care.
• Encourages patients to become active participants in their own care and treatment.
• Connects patients to community resources related to social determinants of health.

Benefits

• Highmark Health and its affiliates prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on any category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level