Statewide Louisiana Bridge Program Manager

Position: Statewide Louisiana Bridge Manager

Contact number associated with posting: 225-354-3511

Job description for position: The Louisiana Bridge Program is an intervention designed to address the alarming rate of overdose deaths by scaling up buprenorphine access, patient navigation programs, harm reduction services, and take-home naloxone in emergency departments (EDs). Louisiana’s program provides continuity of care to persons entering EDs with substance use disorder, and has demonstrated a significant decreased overdose morality in the region of the state where it was fully implemented. LDH now seeks to scale-up this model statewide.

The Louisiana Bridge Manager will oversee this statewide expansion of the Bridge program and provide training and technical assistance to hospitals in Louisiana who are implementing the Louisiana Bridge model of care. The Manager will also support and coordinate state level partners in developing program technical documents and metrics, evaluating program effectiveness, and identifying resources needed for expansion. The Louisiana Bridge Manager will also assist with overall promotion of the program. In addition to serving as the statewide lead, duties include:

100%

· Developing a standardized training and technical assistance package for Louisiana Hospitals based on the National Bridge Model and Louisiana Program, to include individual technical assistance visits to implementing hospitals and a series of educational sessions on key Bridge pillars:

1) Substance Use Navigators within the hospitals to work alongside emergency department staff to engage patients in substance use disorder treatment options including medication assisted treatment (MAT) and assist with discharge planning and post-discharge follow-up;

2) Embedded harm reduction practices to reduce the risk of overdose; and

3) Access to MAT, including through expansion of prescribers who are using and comfortable with buprenorphine.

· Developing a technical assistance team including physicians, clinicians, navigators, pharmacists, and harm reduction specialists to assist in providing training to hospitals in each of LDH’s nine public health regions.

· Draft strategic plans, communication plans, and regularly update LDH Deputy Secretary, Surgeon General and Assistant Secretaries on progress and barriers.

· Function as contract monitor for statewide implementation contracts that support this program’s development.

· Working with LDH leadership to identify sustainable funding for this initiative.

· Potentially testify at the state capital or in work groups, tasks forces or committee meetings in support, education and advocating for the Louisiana Bridge Program.

· Evaluating hospital readiness to implement the Louisiana Bridge program, engage hospitals based on interest and readiness; train hospital teams to implement Louisiana Bridge using technical assistance package and evaluate progress.

· Meet with regional hospital leadership, CEOs, and healthcare administrators to assess, promote and provide guidance on Louisiana’s program.

· Developing formal metrics for participating hospitals and track successes and opportunities for improvement. Use metrics to inform program development and monitor fidelity to the model.

· Working with hospitals to recruit and train Substance Use Navigators. Develop a structure for Substance Use Navigators to collaborate, support, and learn from each other statewide. (SUN Collaborative)

· Coordinating with Office of Public Health and Office of Behavioral Health to inform program needs and identify resources for expansion. Coordinate with LDH program offices on integration of complimentary grants and initiatives with Bridge Program.

· Identifying systems level barriers for Louisiana Bridge Expansion; work with state level partners to remove barriers when able. Works with certification groups to obtain continuing education credits, when applicable.

· Completing LDH required training.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS:

The Statewide Louisiana Bridge Director will work closely with leadership in the Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) and the Office of Public Health (OPH) and co-report directly to Chief Medical Officers for both offices.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT:

• Bachelor’s Degree and/or relevant experience working (at least 5 years) with at risks population and public health/public safety emergencies
• Professional certification or licensure relevant to the job description (Paramedic, Law Enforcement, Social Worker, Licensed Professional Counselor)

OTHER CORE COMPETENCIES:

· Excellent presentation and public speaking skills

· Experience in grant administration, contract management and project management

· Systems level thinking

· Ability to draft operational documents

· Ability to work and communicate effectively across programs, departments, and skillsets (including physicians, peers, administrators, and government).

· Experience in collecting and analyzing data

We seek a dynamic leader with strong communication skills who is a consensus builder. We envision a self-starter who is team oriented and has a collaborative and supportive leadership style. Comfort with public speaking is preferred. This person will work collaboratively with LDH leadership, LDH OPH regional medical directors, executive directors for Louisiana human services districts and authorities, regional opioid preparedness outreach coordinators, providers, and hospital leadership throughout the state.

Some travel is required.

Location of Position: Baton Rouge Area

Email Address to Send Inquiries: nylah.sims@la.gov

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $62,400.00 - $84,989.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• work and communicate effectively: 1 year (Preferred)
• collect/analyzing data: 1 year (Preferred)
• systems level thinking: 1 year (Preferred)
• self starter: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $62,400 - $84,989