Every Patient. Every Encounter. Every Day.

At University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health (UM UCH), you will join a highly dedicated and supportive team that has been providing high quality care to the community of Harford County for over 100 years. We proudly serve our patients and our community with unwavering commitment and exceptional care. It’s our passion for people that motivates us to do great work every single day.

Consistently named among the top 100 Best Places to Work in Maryland, our team members have the opportunity to grow professionally in a supportive and stimulating environment.

 As a member of our team, you will experience:

• A supportive, collaborative, and continuous learning work environment
• A comprehensive benefits package to support your health and a balanced lifestyle
• 403(b) savings plan with company match
• Tuition Reimbursement benefits

General Summary
The Peer Recovery Coach provides non-clinical services intended to aid patients in establishing recovery from high risk of dependent alcohol and drug use. The Peer Recovery Coach will work as part of the Emergency Department team to provide peer support and motivation to encourage patients to seek treatment for alcohol or drug dependency and addiction. The Peer Recovery Coach will assist in developing recovery plans, complete referrals to treatment and other recovery supports. Services will be provided in the Emergency Department with appropriate follow-up.
Principal Responsibilities and Tasks
The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. These are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

1. Conducts brief intervention with patients that screen positive for risky alcohol and/or drug use and when requested by ED physician.
2. Notifies ED RN or Charge RN before conducting intervention with patient.
3. Identifies patients history of alcohol/drug use, treatment history, motivation to change and needs for community supports.
4. Identifies patient’s readiness to change and uses motivational interviewing techniques along with positive recovery communication skills to support a plan for reducing or eliminating harmful alcohol/drug use.
5. Recognizes patient’s distress and requests further assistance from Behavioral Health when indicated.
6. Models coping, recovery, and self-help strategies.
7. Works with ED staff, Behavioral Health staff, and other support staff to identify available community services with consideration for insurance and funding limitations of the patient.
8. Knowledgeable about how to link patients with treatment and community resources and able to assist patient and family with how to utilize these services.

University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health (UM UCH) offers the residents of northeastern Maryland an unparalleled combination of clinical expertise, leading-edge technology, and an exceptional patient experience.
A community-based, integrated, non-profit health system, our vision is to become the preferred, integrated health system creating the healthiest community in Maryland. We are dedicated to maintaining and improving the health of the people in our community through an integrated health delivery system that provides high quality care to all. Our commitment to service excellence is evident through a broad range of health care services, technologies and facilities. We work collaboratively with our community and other health organizations to serve as a resource for health promotion and education.
Today, UM UCH is the leading health care system and second largest private employer in Harford County. Our 3,500 team members and over 650 medical staff physicians serve residents of Harford County, eastern Baltimore County, and western Cecil County.
University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health owns and operates:
University of Maryland Harford Memorial Hospital (UM HMH), Havre de Grace, MD
University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center (UM UCMC), Bel Air, MD
The Upper Chesapeake Health Foundation, Bel Air, MD
The Patricia D. and M. Scot Kaufman Cancer Center, Bel Air, MD
The Senator Bob Hooper House, Forest Hill, MD

Education & Experience

1. High school diploma or G.E.D. is required.
2. The candidate must be actively engaged in his/her own recovery program with a minimum of two years’ (three years’ preferred) demonstrated personal recovery and sustained abstinence from alcohol and/or drug use.

Skills & Abilities

1. The Peer Recovery Coach must demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills, the ability to relate to patients and health professionals, as well as an ability to develop professional working relationships with partner agencies.
2. The candidate must possess excellent listening, verbal and written communication skills, as well as good problem solving skills.
3. The incumbent must be able to read, interpret documents and write routine reports.
4. Basic computer skills are required.
5. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate a willingness to learn and an interest in acquiring new skills.

The person will be mostly based at UCMC but may be asked to rotate to HMH. Hours are generally 10 hour shifts.