Behavioral Health Counselor, PRN, Emergency Department

This is a PRN position so schedule is variable

Masters of Social Work, Counseling, or Marriage and Family Therapy Required

LICENSURE, CERTIFICATION, and/or REGISTRATION: Licensed in Social Work or Counseling

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Completes and documents an accurate clinical assessment which concludes with the identification of key findings that support the need for treatment and the level of care placement.

• Quickly assesses patient's needs, verbally confirms these, and clearly communicates benefits of appropriate treatment program.

• Determines the severity of the patient's psychosocial stressors and level of functioning by utilizing GAF Scales.

• Responds quickly and with empathy to all assessments or requests for program/treatment information.

• Determines when to consult with a physician/ psychiatrist re: the assessment findings and disposition.

• Involves family members by providing education regarding treatment and aftercare support including intervention assistance through appropriate referrals.

• Works with family members in ways that help them recognize their own dynamics of co-dependency and denial which contribute to enabling/exacerbating the patient's drinking/using behaviors/ psychiatric symptoms.

• Obtains a family history from a family member which corroborates the patient's substance abuse history/psychiatric symptoms and identifies the family member's own recovery needs.

• Facilitates each admission by obtaining the physician's authorization according to the physician assignment procedure. Completes all pre-admission financial/insurance verifications in accordance with Hospital Admitting Department policies and procedures.

• Determines financial viability for treatment with the assistance of the admissions personnel. Maintains knowledge of hospital payment policies and practice to include third party payor reimbursement practices, Medicaid, and Medicare reimbursement requirements.

Consistently provides direction and information to patients, physicians, families, visitors and staff in a concise, informative, positive and courteous manner.

• Ensures excellent customer service to patients including excellent communication, treating them in a caring manner, being timely regarding treatment and being professional in their care.

• Consistently demonstrates behaviors that meet or exceed hospital's standards when interacting with customers. Establishes and maintains a therapeutic relationship with patients/family members.

• Promotes a positive work environment with co-workers and other customers.

• Attends and participates in required department and hospital meetings and in-services.

• Referrals Makes efficacious referrals to community resources for on-going treatment of patients and family members.

• Upholds a professional working relationship at all times and adheres to department rules.

• Practices teamwork and adheres to Standards of Behavior.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent decision making skills

• Good judgement

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to quickly assess patient's needs and verbally confirm these

• Capable of communicating clearly the benefits of appropriate treatment programs required.

• Knowledge of developmental stages of people from age six years to greater than 65 years preferred.

• Broad knowledge base of DSM IV diagnoses and treatment modalities required.

• Computer skills preferred.

Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including:

Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.