Allegheny Health Network
GENERAL OVERVIEW:
A BHC is a member of the core healthcare team who assists the care managers in managing overall health of their enrolled population. The BHC’s goals are to help improve recognition, treatment, and management of psychosocial/behavioral problems and medical conditions in the enrolled population. The BHC provides clinical mental health consultation services within the scope of their state's professional licensure board to all patients referred by the care team. The BHC participates in the management of psychosocial aspects of chronic and acute diseases, application of behavioral principles to address lifestyle and health risk issues, consultation and co-management in the treatment of mental disorders and psychosocial issues. The BHC is the team's go-to expert for mental health and substance abuse assessment, intervention, and connection to higher levels of care for mental health and addiction services as required.
ESSENTIAL 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 a variety of topics from behavioral health and substance abuse background, training, and expertise to multidisciplinary team members during the course of treatment planning for patients
Participates in daily huddles, listening for behavioral health, substance abuse, and psychosocial needs
Provides population based care based on registry to high risk/high need patients
Provides services to all enrollees (not just those with diagnosable mental disorders)
Participates in system-wide BHC learning collaborative
Promotes ongoing change efforts in the practice and within the AHN health system around mental health and substance abuse disorders
Documents in the same medical record as the rest of the team in a place that is easily visible by providers and other team members
Engages patients via telephone as well as in person
Meets patients and providers where they are, usually the same day a patient presents in clinic providing immediate support to include assessment, intervention and referrals to higher levels of care for mental health and addiction needs when required
Often sees patients immediately after other team members (often in exam room or nearby consult room) and encourages patient participation in the overall treatment plan
Provides therapeutic counseling services appropriate to the ambulatory care environment: using 15-30 minute interventions
Identify functional outcomes; make recommendations that target occupational, social, and familial functioning; home activities; recreation
Treat patients with short term interventions based on “treat to target” approach using solution focused approaches, CBT, Motivational Interviewing and other short term counseling interventions
Coordinates with patient family members and other support systems (with patient permission)
Provide brief follow up, including relapse prevention education
Promote skill building to enhance psychological and physical health/sometimes in the form of groups
Helps patient in crisis get urgent mental health and substance abuse needs met
Triage and refer patients to specialty mental health and substance abuse services when appropriate (i.e. Childhood trauma, IOP, inpatient hospitalization, PTSD, psychiatry, etc.)
Advocates for patients who are 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 patient to become an active participant in their own care and treatment
Connects patient to a variety of resources in the community related to social determinants of health
QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum
Master’s degree in Mental Health Field
2 years experience in 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
Disclaimer: The job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this job title. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.
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