Behavioral Health Consultant-Saint Vincent Family Medicine-Erie

Highmark Health•Erie, PA

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) is a member of the core healthcare team who assists care managers in managing the overall health of the enrolled population. The BHC helps improve recognition, treatment, and management of psychosocial and behavioral problems and medical conditions. Within the scope of their state professional licensure, the BHC provides clinical mental health consultation to patients referred by the care team, supports management of psychosocial aspects of acute and chronic disease, applies behavioral principles to lifestyle and health risks, and consults and co-manages treatment of mental disorders and psychosocial concerns. The BHC is the team's resource for mental health and substance abuse assessment, intervention, and connection to higher levels of care when needed. The role combines population health and collaborative care with brief, practical clinical interventions. The BHC works with patients in person and by telephone, often on the same day they present in clinic, and coordinates with providers, families and other support systems when patients permit. The position also supports practice-level change efforts, patient advocacy, outreach, and connections to community resources.

Requirements

Master's degree in a mental health field.
At least 2 years of experience using 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.
Current licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT); out-of-state license transfers must be completed within 60 days of hire.
American Heart Association CPR certification.
Act 34 Criminal Background Clearance Certificate.
Act 33 Child Abuse Clearance Certificate.
Act 73 FBI Fingerprinting Criminal Background Clearance Certificate.

Responsibilities

Participate as a core care team member in developing clinical pathways and best-practice programs for targeted patient groups.
Attend practice staff meetings and trainings, daily huddles, and the system-wide BHC learning collaborative.
Educate and support multidisciplinary team members on behavioral health, substance abuse, and psychosocial topics during patient treatment planning.
Provide registry-based population care to high-risk and high-need patients and services to all enrollees, including those without diagnosable mental disorders.
Promote practice and health-system change efforts relating to mental health and substance abuse disorders.
Document in a shared medical record in a location visible to providers and other care team members.
Engage patients in person and by telephone, including providing immediate support, assessment, interventions, and referrals when needed.
Encourage patient participation in the overall treatment plan and identify functional outcomes, making recommendations related to occupational, social, family, home, and recreational functioning.
Provide brief therapeutic counseling appropriate to ambulatory care, typically using 15–30 minute interventions and short-term, treat-to-target approaches such as solution-focused methods, CBT, and Motivational Interviewing.
Coordinate with patients' family members and other support systems when the patient gives permission.
Provide brief follow-up and relapse-prevention education, and promote skills that support psychological and physical health, sometimes through groups.
Assist patients in crisis with urgent mental health and substance abuse needs; triage and refer to specialty services when appropriate, including trauma care, IOP, inpatient hospitalization, PTSD services, and psychiatry.
Advocate for patients perceived as difficult to work with or non-compliant and reach out, usually by telephone, to patients who are not engaging in care.
Encourage patients to take an active role in their care and connect them with community resources related to social determinants of health.