Community Behavioral Health Advocate

Description

Position Title:                     Community Behavioral Health Advocate (CBHA)
Department:                       Nursing
Supervisor:                        Project Coordinator
Status/Hours Per Week:    Non-Exempt / 40 hours

Primary Function:

The CBHA handles project activities by supporting patient retention and participation in Medication for Opioid Use Disorders (MOUD) treatment. 

Duties & Responsibilities:

OD2A Project Specific Duties:
•    Support retention in care and long-term recovery management through ongoing follow up and tracking of patients with substance use disorders.
•    Conduct outreach and make follow up calls with patients to ensure continuity of care.
•    Assist the Behavioral Health RN in development of an individualized treatment plan based on patient’s needs assessment, consents and contracts.
•    Assist the Behavioral Health RN to make referrals to SUD Navigator, behavioral health and human services providers at the Health Center for needed services.
•    Assist the Behavioral Health RN and provide on-going support during nursing visits for MOUD follow up support.
•    Maintain ongoing communication with primary care provider/team with appropriate documentation and follow up.
•    Participate in multi-disciplinary care coordination team meetings to discuss patient’s progress and need for additional support and follow up.
•    Follow-up with new, non-compliant and lost to treatment patients to ensure continuity of care.
•    As a member of the OD2A project, participate in data collection activities as required by the OD2A project.
•    Participate in meetings and trainings required by OD2A project.  

General Duties:
•    Welcome and escort patients from waiting room to examination room; coordinate patient flow during appointments for medication assisted treatment follow up care.
•    Assist patients in completing pre-visit screening forms and enter results into patient record.
•    Anticipate provider interpreter needs and provide interpreter services for providers and nurses.
•    Inform waiting patients of any unexpected delays.
•    Assist with triaging telephone calls as per policy and procedure.
•    With direction from clinical staff, send patients for appropriate labs before examination by provider.
•    Assist with obtaining prior authorizations for medications and equipment.
•    Participate in clinical care session planning and team huddles.
•    Participate in departmental meetings.
•    Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
 

Qualifications

Minimum Basic Knowledge:

    •    High School Diploma or its equivalency (GED Certificate). 
•    Care coordination skills working with individuals, community groups, and health and social service providers.  

Experience & Qualifications:

    •    Minimum of 2 years of experience in a healthcare setting, or in the field of substance use disorders, or behavioral health services or willingness to learn and be trained.
•    Experience with advocacy – and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, community groups, and healthcare professionals.
•    Strong communication skills and knowledge of PHI and confidentiality.
•    Must be comfortable working with patients with different levels of emotional distress.
•    Excellent interpersonal communication and skills whether in person, via the telephone and/or in writing.
•    Superior service attitude; along with being compassionate and kind.
•    Comfortable in a practice environment/culture that promotes ongoing change toward process improvement.
•    Ability to stand/walk for extended periods of time.
•    Ability to work flexible hours.
•    Ability to greet staff, patient and visitors in a pleasant and helpful manner with strong focus on customer service.
•    Must be reliable and punctual.
•    CPR certification to be completed within first 6 months of employment.
•    Bilingual language skills desirable (Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese, or Spanish).  

Independent Action:

Independent action as directed/needed by duties and responsibilities of position, as listed above. 

Supervisory Responsibility:
None

Define Access Level to PHI:    Level 4: Authorized to access full health information. UCC position and job responsibilities involve the provision of patient care and working as a clinical team member. Staff in this category level, although allowed full access, should only access the necessary information for each respective treatment encounter/circumstance.