Psych Response Team Case Manager

At Memorial Hermann, we pursue a common goal of delivering high quality, efficient care while creating exceptional experiences for every member of our community. When we say every member of our community, that includes our employees. We know that when our employees feel cared for, heard and valued, they are inspired to create moments that exceed expectations, while prioritizing safety, compassion, personalization and efficiency. If you want to advance your career and contribute to our vision of creating healthier communities, now and for generations to come, we want you to be a part of our team.

Job Summary

Works as Psychiatric Response Team Clinician providing care within various Emergency Departments, medical units and tele-psychiatry throughout the Memorial Hermann Healthcare System. The Response Team Clinician is part of a mobile team required to travel to all system hospitals in their personal automobile. This role is identified as essential personnel for the Healthcare system and must staff all shifts (days, evenings, overnights, and weekends). The Response Team Clinician is part of Disaster Team A.
The Response Team Clinician intervenes with patients who have identified psychiatric or chemical dependency needs or are identified as at risk of harm to self or others.
Suicidal Ideations
Severely distressed/extremely anxious
Substance abuse and dependency
Unexplained somatic complaints
Confusion /disorientation (Not caused by a medical condition)
Bizarre/agitated behavior
Hallucinations/delusions/ paranoia
Threat of harm to others
Mood disturbances
Behavioral disturbances
The Response Team Clinician must be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the patient served. Demonstrate clinical skills for effective crisis intervention and a thorough knowledge of the DSM-IV TR. The clinician conducts a psychiatric evaluation including diagnosis Axis I-V and determines voluntary or involuntary status with the patient. Evaluate risk factors for patient safety; suicide and homicide assessments to determine treatment plan and level of care needed. In addition, the clinician offers crisis intervention counseling to patients and their families. Based on the treatment and psychosocial needs of the patient the clinician coordinates/facilitates care plan including; psychiatric hospitalization transfers, referral information, and aftercare plan for patients with behavioral health needs. Consult with Response Team medical directors (psychiatrists) and attending physician for case review and medication recommendations. Consult with family and physicians, and facilitates disposition regardless of payor source. The clinician verifies payor source parameters for determination of public and/or private program eligibility and facilitates case disposition based on patient acuity. This role will receive referrals for individuals from at-risk populations from interdisciplinary team members (including physicians, Case Managers, staff nurses, and other members of the care team). Job Description

Minimum Qualifications:

Masters Degree in Social Work

Three years psychiatric/healthcare field experience.

Knowledge of best practices in working with various psychiatric populations.

Proficient in conducting evaluations to determine the psychosocial and psychiatric needs of adults, children and families.

Knowledge of risk factors for suicide and homicide assessments.

Working knowledge/experience in DSM IV TR.

Demonstrate understanding of levels of care, utilization management, managed care, and payor issues.

Experience in crisis intervention, psychosocial and therapeutic counseling with both individuals and family members.

Working knowledge/experience of family systems and effective strategies for engaging the family in the patients treatment.

Maintain Psychiatric Response Team clinician annual core competencies in: Domestic Violence , Levels of Care, EMTALA, Lab Studies, Medications, Drug Abuse, DSM IV., Commitments, Malingering Patients, Alcohol Withdrawal, Benzodiazepine Withdrawal, Suicide /Homicide assessments and Psychiatric Emergencies and Restraints.

The clinician will need strong interviewing, assessment, organizational and problem solving skills. Ability to identify appropriate community resources on assigned caseload and to work collaboratively with patients, families, multidisciplinary team and community agencies to achieve desired patient outcomes. Seek consultation/supervision from team psychiatrists or clinical coordinators on complex psychiatric and/or medical cases when clinically appropriate.

Possess excellent interpersonal communication and negotiation skills in interactions with patients, families, physicians and health care team colleagues. Strong analytical and PC skills. Exposure and/or experience in pre-acute and post-acute care, as well as community resources. Ability to work independently as well as to develop collaborative relationships with physicians, families, patients, interdisciplinary team and other community agencies. Excellent communication and negotiation skills. Ability to analyze, develop and manage change; to integrate CQI principles for service and organization work improvements.

The clinician will have the ability to work with people of all social, economic, and cultural backgrounds; be flexible, open-minded and adaptable to change. Demonstrate the ability to connect patients and families with necessary services, both inside and outside the MHHS network. Maintain a current working knowledge of services available in the local community, particularly services available to patients with limited or non-existent payment resources. Demonstrate patience and tact when dealing with patients, families and other staff.

The clinician must demonstrate adherence to social work ethics and values. Demonstrates commitment to the Partners-in-Caring process by integrating our culture in all internal and external customer interactions; delivers on our brand promise of we advance health through innovation, accountability, empowerment, collaboration, compassion and results while ensuring one Memorial Hermann.

Principle Accountabilities:

PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT AND CRISIS INTERVENTION

On the basis of the Behavioral Health evaluation, the clinician will assess the patient and their familys psychosocial risk factors through evaluation of current and prior functioning levels, patients psychiatric history, severity of psychiatric symptoms, appropriateness and adequacy of support systems, reaction to illness and ability to cope.

Evaluate for self-injurious or harmful behaviors and recommends precautions according to patient acuity.

Consult with Response Team medical directors (psychiatrists) and attending physician for case review and medication recommendations.

Provide psychiatric diagnosis Axis I V and appropriately document clinical criteria and psychiatric symptoms for third party payor source review.

Provide crisis intervention counseling and/or education with adults, children and families experiencing emotion disturbances, mental illness or problems related to substance abuse.

Intervene with patients and families regarding emotional, social, and financial consequences of illness and/or disability; accesses and mobilizes family/community resources to meet identified needs.

Provide intervention in cases involving child abuse/neglect, domestic violence, elderly abuse, institutional abuse and sexual assault.

Serve as a resource person and provides crisis counseling and intervention related to treatment decisions.

Advocate for patient and family empowerment and independence to make autonomous health care decisions and access needed services within the health care system and the community at large.

Plan of care

Consult with physician in emergency room and/or medical floor, provide treatment options and clinical recommendations for the patients care based on the patients diagnosis, acuity, and environmental factors effecting the patients safety.

Provide crisis intervention counseling regarding treatment options, stabilization and patient safety to patients and their families.

Educate patient and family regarding the patients diagnosis and treatment options available.

Intervene with families exhibiting complex family dynamics that impact directly on patient care and discharge.

Verify payor source parameters for determination of public and/or private program eligibility,

Engage patient and family members in developing safety plans for patients not meeting criteria for psychiatric hospitalization.

Facilitate case disposition based on patent acuity. Develop Behavioral Health Aftercare Plan for all patients not requiring psychiatric inpatient hospital transfer in order to ensure a timely discharge and to provide appropriate linkage with post-discharge care providers.

Communicate with physicians, nurses, and case managers regarding the discharge planning status of all patients referred by them.

Provide consultation to Case Managers when coordination with significant or intensive community resources is necessary to achieve desired treatment outcomes.

Provide intervention in child abuse/neglect, domestic violence, guardianship (temporary/ permanent), foster care, adoption, mental health placement, adult/elderly abuse, child protection and sexual assault.

Ensure safe care to patients adhering to policies, procedures, and standards, within budgetary specifications, including time management, supply management, productivity, and accuracy of practice.

Promote individual professional growth and development by meeting requirements for mandatory/continuing education, skills competency, supports department-based goals which contribute to the success of the organization; serves as preceptor, mentor, and resource to less experienced staff.