BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

Job Details: Job Location: Medical Mall MLK - MOBILE, AL, Salary Range: Undisclosed, JOB SUMMARY: The BHS provides a range of client-centered services that link clients with health care, psychosocial support, and other services.

BHS link community members to the resources they need such as: health screening information, healthcare providers, assistance with publicly funded health insurance, financial assistance, mental health and substance abuse treatment along with transportation services.

This position enhances the quality of the Care Coordination team ability to provide proactive patient management, increased patient and provider satisfaction, and continuity of patient care.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Provides outreach to individuals in a variety of settings including but not limited to health fairs, clinic outreach, and patient lists for targeted outreach.

Manage patient check-in processes, including insurance verification, copay collection, and intake documentation, consents and release of information compliance. Deliver culturally appropriate and accessible health education and information, often by using education tools within the EHR.

Arranging for bilingual providers or translators, and assist with culturally appropriate educations, as needed. Help clients access resources by scheduling appointments and assisting with program applications.

Manage referrals and insurance, including scheduling appointments, verifying coverage, and completing prior authorizations. Assists BH team with coordination of care by tracking and supporting patients when they obtain services outside of this agency.

Provide mental health psychoeducation on symptoms, treatments, and coping skills to reduce stigma, working with clients to build trust, follow up to ensure appointment compliance and prevent social isolation.

Building relationships within the community to promote mental health wellness among community members and leaders. Assist patients as needed with managing their appointments and schedules and any patient self-management goals utilizing motivational interviewing skills.

Managing departmental calls, messages, scheduling, follow-up appointments and communicating concerns to team as needed. Serves as a liaison between behavioral health division and other departments within the agency and externally for patients to address social determinants of health as needed.

Understands and follows policies and procedures and produces and submits reports and documentation in a timely manner. Collects historical information on client and intake documentation to include releases, medication list, history of treatment and document collateral information into the EHR system.

Maintains excellent communication within the behavioral health staff. Documents actions in the patient’s medical record as appropriate. Serves as a patient advocate. Acts as a liaison between the patient care team, behavioral healthcare facility, and community agencies among all Franklin Primary Health Center clinics.

Other related duties as assigned. CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: Must provide the very best customer satisfaction to patients, visitors, and co-workers at all time in a professional and courteous manner.

Provides assistance in resolving customers’ problems Coordinates efforts and interfaces with other departments to resolve problems Actively protects customer confidentiality Actively keeps environment clean and safe with a professional and welcoming image Always treats customers as welcome guests and provides a warm and sincere greeting Consistently presents a professional appearance in dress and grooming by adherence to dress code policy Effectively and regularly demonstrates the values of the organization Effectively involves customers in decisions that affect them Follows through in a timely manner of commitments made to customers Taking ownership of your attitude toward Service Excellence.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: Performance will be evaluated by the Program Coordinator or designee annually wherein a satisfactory overall rating is considered a minimum acceptable level of performance. HEALTH AND SAFETY: Must adhere to safety policies and procedures.

Must receive Safety and Hazardous Communication training annually. Must exercise universal precautions and comply with safety standards and procedures. Knowledgeable of OSHA and CLIA requirements to assure compliance.

PRIVACY RULE COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS: Adheres to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA Privacy Rule) policies and procedures. Must successfully complete Privacy Rule compliance training annually or as revisions are made to the policies and procedures.

Must comply with Privacy Rule guidelines by learning to protect FPHC patient’s medical privacy. Must comply with Privacy Rule guidelines by appropriately maintaining our patient information in compliance with national standards.

Must comply with Privacy Rule guidelines by providing appropriate security of FPHC patient records. PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI) ACCESS: UNRESTRICTED/RESTRICTED- For purposes of HIPAA Compliance there are 4 workforce categories, which define the level of access to PHI that is granted to the incumbent.

This position is classified under Social Services and therefore granted RESTRICTED access – for the purpose of providing patient assistance and RESTRICTED access- for other uses and disclosures according to the purpose for which the use is intended. Use and disclosure must be in accordance with applicable privacy policies and procedures.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATION: EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: A bachelor’s degree in Health Education, Health Promotion, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, or a related field—OR an equivalent combination of education and experience—is preferred but not required, along with relevant professional experience.

Strong written and verbal communications skills are required. Possess strong organization and analytical skills. Possess the ability to work with minimal supervision and manage multiple priorities. Demonstrate the ability to delegate duties effectively. Possess a valid Alabama Driver's License.

Should be familiar with social service agencies and Medicare and Medicaid regulations. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILIIES: Knowledge of organizational policies, regulations and procedures to carry out the duties of the CHW as defined by a formal training curriculum.

Skills in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with patients, medical staff, and the public are required. Skills are required in preparing and maintaining records, writing reports, and responding to correspondence. Abilities to maintain quality control standards.

Abilities to interpret adapt and apply guidelines and procedures. Must possess the ability to communicate clearly and maintain confidentiality. OTHER QUALIFICATIONS: Bilingual/bicultural will be considered.