Access Clinician

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Access Center Clinician is responsible for receiving calls from the community regarding information inquiries, requests for crisis services, and referrals for admission to the inpatient units of the Department of Behavioral Health. He or she provides accurate information regarding psychiatric services available both in the hospital and community. The Access Center Clinician provides telephone assessment of patients calling in crisis and triages them to the appropriate site for further evaluation or follow-up. He or she receives referrals for direct inpatient admission from other facilities and assumes responsibility for coordinating and completing each step of the admission process.

Position: Access Clinician

Department: Mission/Behavioral/Health

Schedule: Per Diem

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES / DUTIES:

• Conduct initial screening of all patients who contact the Access Center utilizing knowledge of DSM IV and Department of Behavioral Health admission criteria.

• Responds to crisis calls from the community with accurate telephone assessment and triage to the most appropriate resource for further evaluation or follow-up. Ensures that safe transportation is arranged for patients determined to need emergent face-to-face evaluation.

• Receives referrals for direct admission from other facilities or for transfers from the inpatient units within Boston Medical Center. Completes the pre-admission assessment in accordance with Access Center policy and procedures. Reviews all clinical aspects of each potential admission with the psychiatric attending physician or Behavioral Health Navigator

• Communicates collaboratively with the staff of the Department of Behavioral Health inpatient units to update census status, to report on potential admissions, and to address emerging issues or concerns.

• Checks insurance eligibility. Performs precertification process with insurance/managed care companies and obtains proper authorization for the indicated level of care.

• Assists in coordination of psychiatric transfers from medicine.

• Reviews all psychiatric/crisis evaluations with the psychiatric attending physician. Develops a treatment and disposition plan in collaboration with the psychiatric attending physician.

• Maintains responsibility for case coordination until the patient is transferred to another level of care or is discharged.

(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job. The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required)

Required EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor's degree in related field and at least three years of experience in an emergency mental health setting, or equivalent combination of education and experience, are required.

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Master's degree in counseling, Counseling Psychology, or Social Work and one year of experience in an emergency or outpatient mental health setting.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

• Appropriate interpersonal and communication skills.

• The ability to handle multiple tasks in a fast paced environment.

• Computer skills are desirable.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

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