Behavioral Health Therapist - Emergency Department

PRN as needed

Days / Evenings / Nights

General Summary

Assists with initial triage and assessment, provides clinical oversight, facilitates the admissions process, and serves as a resource about internal and external services. Assists with security and patient behavioral management and provides crisis intervention services.

Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Triages requests for service, providing prompt assistance to all requests in relation to their urgency.
• Documents all requests for service using computerized inquiry functions.
• Maintains a knowledge base of insurance/managed care processes related to pre-certifications and authorizations and completes these as required.
• Uses independent clinical assessment / judgement to make safety observation recommendations in the ED.
• Determines appropriate level of care based on the client’s history, psychosocial history, clinical presentation, and funding situation.
• Instructs and assists the client and client family in completing all necessary paperwork, and witnesses signatures as necessary.
• Works cooperatively with program staff to transition the client to the program and participates in the conference call with the psychiatrist as necessary. Provides a summary of pertinent clinical information and special needs as a part of this process.
• Interacts with all clients and family members with an awareness of confidentiality requirements and patient rights issues, and sensitivity to the client’s and family’s level of distress and needs.
• Assists licensed individual practitioners with initial assessment of patients as they enter triage services.
• Completes all necessary procedures and/or documentation to have treatment authorized by 3rd party payers as needed.
• Completes all necessary procedures and /or documentation necessary to refer patients to other levels of care when appropriate, and / or to other types of service when needed.
• Communicates with and coordinate care with other providers or agencies who may be working with the patient including, but not limited to, the primary care physician, the school, Probation & Parole, Children & Youth, attorneys, clergy, and so forth.
• Using clinical decision-making skills, providing individual, family and group therapy in the ED setting for current ED patient caseload
• Uses independent clinical judgment and adheres to processes / standard work related to the coordination of care of Behavioral health patients.
• Maintains an awareness of community resources and provides this information to clients as requested.
• Serves as an initial contact for internal emergencies, administrative concerns, and public relations issues, and directs these contacts to the appropriate WellSpan Philhaven staff.
• Maintains an awareness of WellSpan Philhaven’s admission criteria and the Mental Health Procedures Act and serves as a resource for other WellSpan Philhaven staff concerning appropriateness for admission and mental health legal requirements.
• Maintains a knowledge base of behavioral management techniques and assists in behavioral management emergencies (BERT) throughout the ED.

Common Expectations:

• Prioritizes workload and manages time effectively to best serve other staff and potential clients.
• Maintains a constant awareness of customer service and assists customers until their needs are satisfied.
• Completes Service Activity accurately and on a timely basis.
• Maintains an accurate and up-to-date awareness of WellSpan Philhaven programs and services and provides this information to clients as requested

Qualifications

Qualifications

Minimum Education:

• Master's Degree Required

Work Experience:

• 2 years-experience in psychology, social work, or related field required

Driver's License Statement:

Must possess a valid driver's license in the current state of residence. Driving record must meet requirements established by WellSpan Risk Management.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Requires interpersonal skills, both verbal and listening, to manage patient admission interaction, and to advise, counsel, and lead employees in compliance with policies.
• In addition, the ability to provide counsel on sensitive patient matters and act in a public relations capacity on various issues is required.
• Analytical ability is required to determine appropriate solutions to crisis calls and service inquiries.
• Visual ability to review and prepare written information and to observe patient behavior is required.
• Knowledge of and ability in the care and handling of patients in all age groups is required, including consideration of the special needs and behaviors of children, adolescents, adults, and older adults.

Benefits Offered:

• Retirement savings plan
• Employee Assistant Program
• Education assistance

For additional details: Benefits & Incentives | WellSpan Careers (joinwellspan.org)

WellSpan Health’s vision is to reimagine healthcare through the delivery of comprehensive, equitable health and wellness solutions throughout our continuum of care. As an integrated delivery system focused on leading in value-based care, we encompass more than 2,300 employed providers, 250 locations, nine award-winning hospitals, home care and a behavioral health organization serving central Pennsylvania and northern Maryland. Our high-performing Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is the region’s largest and one of the best in the nation. With a team 23,000 strong, WellSpan experts provide a range of services, from wellness and employer services solutions to advanced care for complex medical and behavioral conditions. Our clinically integrated network of 3,000 aligned physicians and advanced practice providers is dedicated to providing the highest quality and safety, inspiring our patients and communities to be their healthiest.