Patients Rights Advocate II

State of Maryland•Baltimore City, MD

About The Position

The Resident Grievance System (RGS) is the administrative process to ensure that the rights of residents in the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s facilities are protected. The RGS is responsible for this function in the five (5) Behavioral Health Administration State Psychiatric Facilities, the two (2) Developmental Disabilities Administration’s State Residential Centers, the two (2) Secured Evaluation Therapeutic Treatment Units (SETT), and the two (2) Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents (RICA). Rights Advisors, who function as healthcare consumer advocates, are responsible for the following: 1. Complaint Management - The investigation, mediation, negotiation, and resolution of complaints, in accordance with the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 10.21.14. 2. Clinical Review Panels - Ensures that residents receive due process at Clinical Review Panels (forced medication) as prescribed by the Annotated Code of Maryland, Health General 10-708. 3. Information & Assistance – Provides information and/or assistance to residents regarding their health care and civil rights. 4. Education – Provides education for staff and residents on patient rights and responsibilities and promotes an environment that respects and promotes resident rights. 5. Data Management – Document all patient contacts, grievances, investigations, and relevant documents /correspondence into RGS database. 6. Customer Service – Provide timely response and resolution of patient complaints and advocate for the issues and concerns of the patients to facility staff while The Patient Rights Advisor II functions at an advanced level, without direct, on-site supervision, and is autonomously responsible for directing all facets of the RGS within the assigned facility(s).

Requirements

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four year college or university including 15 credit hours in the field of counseling, health, developmental disabilities, mental health, nursing, psychology, social work, special education or a related behavioral science field.
One year of experience planning, organizing and directing the operation of a residential grievance system in a facility in accordance with State and federal regulations and other legal requirements.
Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator’s license valid in the State of Maryland.
Employees in this classification may be subject to call 24 hours a day and may be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number where the employee can be reached.
Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with psychiatric disorders, developmental disabilities, and forensic issues.
Experience working with psychiatric and developmentally disabled individuals involved with the legal system.
Experience working with complaint investigations.
Experience with interpreting State and Federal regulations.

Responsibilities

Complaint Management - The investigation, mediation, negotiation, and resolution of complaints, in accordance with the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 10.21.14.
Clinical Review Panels - Ensures that residents receive due process at Clinical Review Panels (forced medication) as prescribed by the Annotated Code of Maryland, Health General 10-708.
Information & Assistance – Provides information and/or assistance to residents regarding their health care and civil rights.
Education – Provides education for staff and residents on patient rights and responsibilities and promotes an environment that respects and promotes resident rights.
Data Management – Document all patient contacts, grievances, investigations, and relevant documents /correspondence into RGS database.
Customer Service – Provide timely response and resolution of patient complaints and advocate for the issues and concerns of the patients to facility staff while