UCHC | Upham's Corner Health Center - Dorchester, MA
posted 9 days ago
Full-time - Entry Level
Dorchester, MA
Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations
About the position
The Community Behavioral Health Advocate (CBHA) plays a crucial role in supporting patient retention and participation in Medication for Opioid Use Disorders (MOUD) treatment. This position involves handling project activities that are essential for the ongoing care and recovery of patients with substance use disorders. The CBHA will work closely with the Behavioral Health RN and other healthcare professionals to ensure that patients receive the necessary support and resources for their treatment.
Responsibilities
- Support retention in care and long-term recovery management through ongoing follow up and tracking of patients with substance use disorders.
- Conduct outreach and make follow up calls with patients to ensure continuity of care.
- Assist the Behavioral Health RN in development of an individualized treatment plan based on patient's needs assessment, consents and contracts.
- Assist the Behavioral Health RN to make referrals to SUD Navigator, behavioral health and human services providers at the Health Center for needed services.
- Assist the Behavioral Health RN and provide on-going support during nursing visits for MOUD follow up support.
- Maintain ongoing communication with primary care provider/team with appropriate documentation and follow up.
- Participate in multi-disciplinary care coordination team meetings to discuss patient's progress and need for additional support and follow up.
- Follow-up with new, non-compliant and lost to treatment patients to ensure continuity of care.
- As a member of the OD2A project, participate in data collection activities as required by the OD2A project.
- Participate in meetings and trainings required by OD2A project.
- Welcome and escort patients from waiting room to examination room; coordinate patient flow during appointments for medication assisted treatment follow up care.
- Assist patients in completing pre-visit screening forms and enter results into patient record.
- Anticipate provider interpreter needs and provide interpreter services for providers and nurses.
- Inform waiting patients of any unexpected delays.
- Assist with triaging telephone calls as per policy and procedure.
- With direction from clinical staff, send patients for appropriate labs before examination by provider.
- Assist with obtaining prior authorizations for medications and equipment.
- Participate in clinical care session planning and team huddles.
- Participate in departmental meetings.
- Maintain patient confidentiality at all times.
Requirements
- High School Diploma or its equivalency (GED Certificate).
- Care coordination skills working with individuals, community groups, and health and social service providers.
- Minimum of 2 years of experience in a healthcare setting, or in the field of substance use disorders, or behavioral health services or willingness to learn and be trained.
- Experience with advocacy and ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, community groups, and healthcare professionals.
- Strong communication skills and knowledge of PHI and confidentiality.
- Must be comfortable working with patients with different levels of emotional distress.
- Excellent interpersonal communication and skills whether in person, via the telephone and/or in writing.
- Superior service attitude; along with being compassionate and kind.
- Comfortable in a practice environment/culture that promotes ongoing change toward process improvement.
- Ability to stand/walk for extended periods of time.
- Ability to work flexible hours.
- Ability to greet staff, patient and visitors in a pleasant and helpful manner with strong focus on customer service.
- Must be reliable and punctual.
- CPR certification to be completed within first 6 months of employment.
Nice-to-haves
- Bilingual language skills desirable (Cape Verdean Creole, Portuguese, or Spanish).
