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At Merrimack Health, we are committed to pay transparency and equity. The base salary range is $27.87 to $41.81 hourly, excluding fringe benefits and potential bonuses.

Your final base salary will be determined based on your education, experience, licensure, and internal equity considerations. Offers are typically made below the top of the range to support future salary growth.

JOB PURPOSE:

We are seeking a mission driven and compassionate individual dedicated to providing superior care to make a difference in the lives of clients we serve. The Behavioral Health Care Coordinator works within Integrated Behavioral Health program to bridge communication among Lawrence General Hospital medical providers, outside professionals, and in-house behavioral health providers. Keeps patients engaged in their care; provides same-day care for patients in need who originally come in for medical appointments by reviewing skills, care plans, and/or connecting to resources.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

+ Serve as a liaison between patients, families/caregivers, hospital teams, and ESP staff.

+ Engage with Behavioral Health patients in the Emergency Department and inpatient units to ensure adequate therapeutic support.

+ Provide warm handoffs for Behavioral Health patients discharging home with community support or to an outpatient care setting.

+ Make discharge follow-up calls to Behavioral Health patients when this is requested by BH clinician and/or ED provider. Identify and address any barriers to receiving appropriate follow-up care in the community, assisting patients in connecting to needed services in the community, including timely follow-up with a Behavioral Health provider

+ Coordinate with Lawrence General Hospital clinical team, and outpatient supports (e.g. BHCP, LTSS, mobile respite programs, outpatient providers, etc.) when these patients present to the Emergency Department to avoid unnecessarily long lengths of stay and help prevent the need for future Emergency Department visits for Behavioral Health crisis.

+ Assist with coordinating telepsychiatry consults and care.

+ Serve as backup to Emergency Department and Behavioral Health Clinicians as needed, assisting with evaluations and MSUs at times of heavy Behavioral Health patient volume in the Emergency Department.

+ Assist with completing BH Department schedule as needed.

+ Assist with ADP Timeclock approvals as needed to support BH Dept. Manager.

+ Assist with interviewing and hiring new staff members.

+ Assist with oversight of BH Placement and Admissions team.

+ Document all patient encounters in Meditech.

+ Performs related duties as assigned.

GENERAL COMPETENCIES:

ENVIRONMENT OF CARE (SAFETY)

+ All new employees are required to attend New Employee Orientation, to include the safety topic, and must complete the annual Safety Training.

+ Uses all equipment in a safe manner.

+ Identifies and reports all safety hazards throughout the Hospital.

+ Reports injuries and accidents and/or errors to patients and visitors in a timely manner.

+ Completes and forwards an Incident Report when indicated using the Hospital’s reporting system.

+ Responds to fires and/or fire drills using the appropriate procedure.

+ Follows the Tobacco Free Environment Policy. (Policy # 01-057)

+ Manages waste and hazardous materials in the proper manner.

+ Uses the Safety Data Sheets when needed.

+ Performs appropriately in actual or simulated Internal Emergency Preparedness episodes.

+ Performs appropriately in actual or simulated External Emergency Preparedness episodes.

+ Uses proper body mechanics and lifting techniques.

QUALITY/PATIENT SAFETY/PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT

+ Strives to exceed Quality and Safety benchmarks quarterly and annually, as established from the Annual Operating Plan (AOP).

+ Abides by service, quality, safety and productivity standards.

+ Supports the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Safety Culture Survey and the Implementation of Improvements, as indicated in the AOP. Develops action plans as required.

+ Identifies problems/issues/risks and formulates effective solutions to mitigate them. Uses Hospital notification system for reporting such problems/issues/risks.

+ Participates in Performance Improvement activities such as Root Cause Analysis or Healthcare Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (HFMEA) when appropriate and required.

+ Implements solutions borne out of a Root Cause Analysis or HFMEA when appropriate.

+ Leverages the Lean methodology to document and continually improve processes when applicable.

SECURITY

+ Assumes responsibility for a clean and safe work environment.

+ Wears one’s Identification Badge at all times while at work.

+ Adheres to policies relating to computer security.

PATIENTS RIGHTS, CONFIDENTIALITY & ETHICS

+ Maintains patients’ rights, privacy and confidentiality in all aspects of the job, including those relating to diagnosis and patient records.

+ Promotes and employs ethical actions at all times with patient’s families and others.

+ Adheres to the policies and procedures of the Corporate Compliance Program.

SERVICE EXCELLENCE

+ Performs as a team member utilizing the LGH values of quality, service, integrity and compassion.

+ Demonstrates excellent customer service by conducting daily activities, communications and interactions in a cooperative, positive and professional manner as dictated by the Hospital’s Service Excellence 7 Standards of Behavior.

COMPETENCY & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

+ Identifies and communicates learning, competency and personal development needs to the supervisor.

+ Actively identifies and participates in educational activities that meet one’s educational needs, as approved by the supervisor.

+ Uses newly found knowledge and skills in one’s role.

AGE RELATED COMMUNICATION & SAFETY

+ Communicates in a manner appropriate and respectful to the comprehension level of the patient and/or family.

+ Maintains a safe environment specific to the age group served.

INFECTION CONTROL

+ Follows standard of universal precautions and use of appropriate personal protection equipment.

+ Works to reduce the risk of health care acquired infections through compliance with current Centers for Disease Control (CDC) hand hygiene guidelines.

+ Standard Precautions area utilized during patient contact and when handling contaminated materials, when necessary.

+ Is knowledgeable of and demonstrates compliance with all National Patient Safety Goals in preventing healthcare acquired infections.

+ Adheres to infection control and safety policies.

ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY

+ Maintains the responsibility for punctuality and attendance to ensure optimal operation of the department.

+ Meets Hospital attendance policy as defined in the Hospital policy manual.

+ When an unscheduled absence from work is necessary, the department is notified according to department policy.

+ Submits requests for Paid Time Off, days off, etc. in accordance with department policy.

EDUCATION AND RELATED EXPERIENCE:

Required:

+ Master’s prepared social worker

+ Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Preferred:

+ LICSW eligible.

+ Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred.

+ Experience in Electronic Medical Records

+ Experience in Health Care

SCHEDULE:

+ Full-Time

+ Work performed in hospital setting preferred, but hybrid and remote work may be an option.