About This Role
The Behavioral Health Therapist provides various outpatient mental health services and interventions focused on recovery and remission, including assessments, counseling, and care coordination. This role involves supporting individuals and their families in addressing social, emotional, and economic stresses related to illness or injury, and serves as a core member of the outpatient collaborative behavioral health care team.
Responsibilities
- Support the mental and physical health care of patients on an assigned caseload
- Closely coordinate care with the patient’s medical provider and meet weekly with a consulting psychiatrist to review patient progress
- Communicate psychiatric recommendations back to the primary provider
- Screen and assess patients for common mental health issues utilizing PHQ-9, GAD-7, and other validated objective rating scales
- Complete all clinical documentation, including treatment plans, assessments, and progress notes, as mandated by regulations and hospital policy
- Provide psychoeducation and direct advice regarding symptoms of depression, anxiety, and alcohol misuse to patients
- Develop treatment plans for patients and communicate those plans to the patient’s primary care provider
- Utilize data from situational analysis, functional assessment, clinical review criteria, and the electronic medical record (EPIC/ConnectCare®) to identify and prioritize patient supportive care needs
- Facilitate multi-disciplinary plan of care meetings to maintain rapport and communication with the treatment team
- Monitor and evaluate the plan of care and patient supportive care plan; identify/prioritize problems and adjust as required
- Demonstrate leadership by initiating referrals to community agencies as needs are assessed (Adult/Child Protective Services, Med Assist, American Cancer Society, DSS etc.)
- Actively participate in education, case management care coordination, and psychosocial referral and follow up as core components of service
- Assist in preparation of behavioral health problem reports and records for an assigned caseload, including progress notes, treatments plans, summaries, and psycho-socials
- Perform all duties in an independent manner
- Seek guidance and direction, as necessary, and consistently report to supervisor with any suggestion for changes in policies and procedures that would enhance departmental efficiency
- Maintain strict confidentiality of patient information as promulgated in federal law
- Attend and participate in Monthly Team Meetings and Quarterly Multidisciplinary Team meetings
- Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possess the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status
- Interpret appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age, specific needs, and to provide the care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures
