Job Description

JOB SUMMARY:
To assess, coordinate screening and stabilization, provide crisis intervention and discharge planning for all behavioral health patients who present to the emergency department. Assist patients and families in accessing community resources regarding long term care, home care needs and/or hospice services. Responds to and assists staff with patients who are victims of violence or trauma to ensure appropriate services and referrals are available.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Master's Degree in in the field(s) of Psychology, Social Work, Counseling required.

CERTIFICATION & LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) upon hire or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) upon hire and CPI certification within 90 days of hire.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Use of usual and customary equipment used to perform essential functions of the position.

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
Required English Skills Advanced reading skills Advanced writing skills Advanced oral skills Communication Skills Ability to respond appropriately to customer/co-worker Interaction with a wide variety of people Maintain confidential information Ability to communicate only the facts to recipients or to decline to reveal information Ability to project a professional, friendly, helpful demeanor Computer Skills Basic computer knowledge: Uses word processing, spreadsheet, e-mail application, and web browser. Comfortable within a Windows OS and learning new applications.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Appropriately assesses patient for risk factors and provide for a safe environment while patient is in the ED as well as when patient is being transferred to another level of care.
• Ensures patient safety in the ED environment by identifying risk factors and educating patients, significant others and all team members.
• Educates ED staff on appropriate interventions in order to promote patient and staff safety when working with behavioral health patients.
• Completes all pertinent clinical rating scales (i.e., suicide rating scale, etc.).
• Assists with the development and revision of behavioral health protocols for risk factors.
• Assures that protocols for risk factors are initiated for all BH patients in the ED and continued throughout patient's stay in ED.
• Utilizes CPI methods when a patient becomes agitated, aggressive or violent. Serves as a CPI resource for the ED and security staff.
• Incorporates National Patient Safety Goals into the treatment of each patient seen in the ED and serves as a resource for other staff on these goals.
• Assists with application of restraints, monitoring of restraints and/or seclusion
• Assures that all documentation of restraint/seclusion meets hospital policies/procedures.
• Debriefs staff whenever a restraint/seclusion is utilized, documents the debriefing.
• Completes required documentation as appropriate, including patient risk assessments, event reports, safety plans, etc.
• Works collaboratively with the ED physician and psychiatrist to ensure appropriate disposition based on risk factors. Refers patients to the most clinically appropriate service(s).
• Assures that patients with risk factors or other medical concerns are transferred in a safe manner whenever transportation to another facility is needed.
• Communicates risk factors to the next level of care (inpatient, PHP, outpatient services, transfers, etc.).
• Obtains pertinent assessment data from patient, significant others, and/or treating psychiatrist or clinician in order to assist the on-call or treating psychiatrist and ED physician to make the best disposition decision.
• Assists in the development, continued review, and continuous improvement of all assessment documentation forms
• Follows all department and hospital policies and procedures related to patient assessments.
• Completes assessments and thoroughly documents in a timely manner- as soon as triage is complete.
• Assures that all medical screening assessments, including laboratory diagnostics are completed according to physician orders and to hospital policy/procedure.
• Interviews persons who accompany the patient to the ED in order to complete the assessment process (is often done separately from the patient interview).
• Contacts treating behavioral health physician (or clinician, case worker) for assessment information (with appropriate ROI from patient).
• Analyzes clinical situations in a systematic way and acts to obtain resources or to correct problems to meet or exceed expected outcomes or patient needs.
• Provides succinct, thorough and accurate assessment information to the on-call psychiatrist (if different from the treating psychiatrist) and the ED physician immediately following assessment to discuss disposition.
• Coordinates contact between on-call psychiatrist and ED physician whenever necessary
• Consistently prioritizes work based on changes in patient condition, changes in assignment, unanticipated interruptions, and increased demand for services with influx of individuals seeking emergency behavioral health services. Continuously prioritizes patient care/safety concerns.
• Manages assignment of patients with non-complex and complex presenting problems, with quick turnover in assignment.
• Assures thorough communication to next provider when temporarily transferring care of a patient.
• Works with the various components of the system of care (MMCI and community agencies/services) in order to quickly, efficiently, and appropriately move the patient fro