Do you enjoy helping people? Are you detail-oriented? Organized? Join our team! Our Behavioral Health Assistant/Certified Medical Assistant are an important part of the Salem Clinic family! The Behavioral Health Assistant/Certified Medical Assistant work as a member of the primary care team, supporting behavioral services to patients in the medical clinics by assisting the Behavioral Health Consultant with care coordination and resource linkages. The work environment is professional and supportive.

Our mission at Salem Clinic is to improve the health of those we serve in a spirit of compassion and respect.

Benefits offered:

• 401(k) retirement plan- 10% employer contribution
• 100% Clinic paid employee premiums for medical, dental, and vision plans. 50% Clinic paid premiums for part-time employees.
• Free Lab and Imaging services when performed at Salem Clinic for those covered under the Clinic’s medical plan.
• Health Reimbursement Account
• Life & Long-term Disability Insurance
• Paid time off & Holiday pay
• Flexible Spending Account
• Athletic & Weight Management Club Credits
• Bilingual pay differential program (3% wage increase if qualified)
• Employee referral program- earn up to $500 per referral

Job Summary: The Behavioral Health Assistant role is to work as a member of the primary care team supporting behavioral services to patients in the medical clinics. This is done by assisting the Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) with care coordination and resource linkages. In general, the job of the Behavioral Health Assistant is to extend the services of the BHC and manage patient flow related to BHC patient appointments.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

1. Qualified Mental Health Associate with current certification or currently Certified Medical Assistant with behavioral health experience.
2. Knowledge of medical and behavioral health practice and to assist in the provision of patient care.
3. Knowledge of medical and behavioral health terminology.
4. Skill in medical record documentation and recording of screening test results.
5. Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with patients, medical providers and staff, and outside agencies.
6. Ability to react calmly and effectively in mental health emergency situations.
7. Ability to interpret, adapt, and apply guidelines and procedures.
8. Ability to communicate clearly. Ability to read, understand, and respond to detailed oral and written instructions.
9. Ability to communicate effectively with patients via face to face interaction, phone calls, and written letters.
10. Ability to be flexible and adaptable to changing assignments and work pace.
11. Ability to recognize problems and share ideas for solutions.
12. Possess good judgment and decision making skills.
13. Ability to utilize computer programs for patient care (Epic EHR, PreManage), access patient resource information from the internet, and the ability to type at least 30 wpm.
14. Basic proficiency in MS Office systems including Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Essential Functions:

1. Provides triage and patient flow assistance to the BHC.
2. Assists with administering standardized screening and outcome measures instruments.
3. Facilitates PCP and patient requests for same-day and future consultations with the BHC.
4. Assures availability of patient education and resource materials related to primary care/behavioral health work.
5. Manages and coordinates referrals to specialty behavioral health services including MH and SUD services.
6. Manages and coordinates referrals for community resources. Assists patients in meeting basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing benefits by linking them with community resources.
7. Maintains up-to-date information for commonly-used community and mental health resources. Maintains current handouts and resource folders on the shared network.
8. Performs pre-visit planning activities to streamline BHC time with patient during the visit.
9. Prepares visit forms and gets them to PSS the day prior to the patient’s appointment.
10. Prepares and mails out new patient materials a week prior to the appointment.
11. Reviews upcoming schedule and moves up appointments as patient need and schedule allow.
12. Performs appointment reminder calls for BHC appointments.
13. Reviews weekly no-show appointments and notifies Patient and Provider Rep of need for no show warning letters.
14. Maintains inventory of commonly used patient handouts and education materials as instructed by the BHC.
15. Produces minutes for BH meetings as needed.
16. Tracks MH/SUD referrals ordered by the BHC.
17. Places follow up phone calls to patients as requested by the BHC to follow-up on patient status or engagement with recommended plan of care, community resource or MH/SA agency.
18. Provides patient education for non complex needs or assists patient in self-care goal support as requested by the BHC.
19. Records pertinent patient information and screening results in the EHR.
20. Performs selected patient care and clerical duties.
21. Assists in scheduling of new consult, same day and follow-up appointments.
22. Manages the deferred scheduling list by deleting old orders and notifying the PCP.
23. Provides after visit information to patient and instructs on any follow up appointments or resources if applicable.
24. Responds to telephone calls/messages and follows-up accordingly to gather information and then relays to the BHC.
25. Orders supplies for BHC.
26. Obtains vital signs if requested by BHC.
27. Assists with de-escalating patients with mental health emergencies in the clinic and on the phone.

Position number: 8D-1F

Hours: Full time | 40 hours per week | 7:15-3:45p