Job Summary

The Behavioral Health Specialist works in collaboration with the patient care team to provide assessment and coordination of care for mental health, behavioral health, and social needs for patients throughout the hospital. This position facilitates communication between patients, families, healthcare professionals, community and state agencies, and other interdisciplinary team members.

Job Duties

• ​Behavioral Health Specialist I:

  • Functions as a member of a professional teamwhich provides evaluation and treatment for psychiatric patients including but not limited to: psychological assessment, crisis intervention, input on treatment decisions, case management, patient advocacy, care coordination, and community outreach
  • Contact psychiatric inpatient facilities to obtain placement for the patient, fax all patients records pertaining to this admission for review, obtain pre-authorization from insurance company, arrange transportation to the facility.
  • For patients discharged from the ED, completes a crisis safety plan and set-up outpatient follow-up appointments. Completes patient signature of authorization to release medical information to the facility.
  • Outreach and coordination to drug and alcohol facilities to obtain admission to inpatient rehab for patients meeting the criteria.
  • Obtains information from patients and other appropriate sources upon which treatment recommendations are initiated, records all information in medical record.
  • Involves patient, family and others as appropriate in delivery of care and treatment recommendations.
  • Works with patient to determine goals to be achieved during course of treatment.
  • Makes arrangements for safe and expedient transfer of patients as required.
  • Acts as a resource of information, and a referral source, for patients and families, care team members, etc.
  • Sets up appointments, arranges for follow-up treatment as indicated.
  • Strives to support quality patient care, patient satisfaction and to assist in the accomplishment of related goals.
  • Assists with insurance verification and authorization procedures.
  • Part of interdisciplinary team that ensures the patients progress in the acute episode of care through post discharge and is quality driven while being efficient and cost effective.
  • Interacts with patients, family members, healthcare professionals, and community and state agencies. Serving as a liaison between the hospital and community agencies or facilities for the exchanges of clinical and referral information.
  • Identifies high risk patients from a psychosocial/financial perspective, assesses the psychological needs of patients and families, and provides information, support, counseling, care management, and referrals to appropriate resources.
  • Resolve psychosocial patient care issues and to develop and implement a complex patient transition/discharge plan.

  Work is typically performed in a clinical environment. Accountable for satisfying all job specific obligations and complying with all organization policies and procedures. The specific statements in this profile are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements considered necessary to successfully perform the job. Additional competencies and skills outlined in any department-specific orientation will be considered essential to the performance of the job related to that position.

  Minimum Qualifications:
  Bachelor's Degree in related field

  Behavioral Health Specialist II:

  • Functions as a member of a professional team which provides evaluation and treatment for psychiatric patients including but not limited to: psychological assessment, crisis intervention, input on treatment decisions, case management, patient advocacy, care coordination, and community outreach
  • Duties will span across the hospital, including inpatient medical floors as needed
  • Contact psychiatric inpatient facilities to obtain placement for the patient, fax all patients records pertaining to this admission for review, obtain pre-authorization from insurance company, arrange transportation to the facility.
  • For patients discharged from the ED, completes a crisis safety plan and set-up outpatient follow-up appointments. Completes patient signature of authorization to release medical information to the facility.
  • Outreach and coordination to drug and alcohol facilities to obtain admission to inpatient rehab for patients meeting the criteria.
  • Implements clinical interventions based on evidence-based clinical guidelines in conjunction with the consult liaison provider.
  • Obtains information from patients and other appropriate sources upon which treatment recommendations are initiated, records all information in medical record.
  • Involves patient, family and others as appropriate in delivery of care and treatment recommendations.
  • Requires knowledge of medical terminology, diagnostic criteria, and chart review.
  • Works with patient to determine goals to be achieved during course of treatment.
  • Makes arrangements for safe and expedient transfer of patients as required.
  • Acts as a resource of information, and a referral source, for patients and families, care team members, etc.
  • Sets up appointments, arranges for follow-up treatment as indicated.
  • Strives to support quality patient care, patient satisfaction and to assist in the accomplishment of related goals.
  • Assists with insurance verification and authorization procedures.
  • Part of interdisciplinary team that ensures the patients progress in the acute episode of care through post discharge and is quality driven while being efficient and cost effective.
  • Interacts with patients, family members, healthcare professionals, and community and state agencies. Serving as a liaison between the hospital and community agencies or facilities for the exchanges of clinical and referral information.
  • Identifies high risk patients from a psychosocial/financial perspective, assesses the psychological needs of patients and families, and provides information, support, counseling, care management, and referrals to appropriate resources.
  • Resolve psychosocial patient care issues and to develop and implement a complex patient transition/discharge plan.

  Work is typically performed in a clinical environment. Accountable for satisfying all job specific obligations and complying with all organization policies and procedures. The specific statements in this profile are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements considered necessary to successfully perform the job. Additional competencies and skills outlined in any department-specific orientation will be considered essential to the performance of the job related to that position.

  Minimum Qualifications:
  Master's Degree in related field

  2 years related work experience

Benefits of working at Geisinger:

• Full benefits (health, dental and vision) starting on day one
• Three medical plan choices, including an expanded network for out-of-area employees and dependents
• Pre-tax savings plans with healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSA) and a health savings account (HSA)
• Company-paid life insurance, short-term disability, and long-term disability coverage
• 401(k) plan that includes automatic Geisinger contributions
• Generous paid time off (PTO) plan that allows you to accrue time quickly
• Up to $5,000 in tuition reimbursement per calendar year
• MyHealth Rewards wellness program to improve your health while earning a financial incentive
• Family-friendly support including adoption and fertility assistance, parental leave pay, military leave pay and a free Care.com membership with discounted backup care for your loved ones
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Referrals for childcare, eldercare, & pet care; Access free legal guidance, mental health visits, work-life support, digital self-help tools and more
• Voluntary benefits including accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity insurance, identity theft protection, universal life and pet and legal insurance
• Shared governance structure that empowers our nursing support staff
• On the job training and education
• Professional opportunities for growth and advancement
• Support and mentorship from a full range of dedicated nursing leaders
• Community involvement through our Employee Resource Groups            
• Employee referral incentive program
• Geisinger values and prioritizes the safety and security of our staff by investing in a Strongline Alert Notification system worn by our staff, robust camera surveillance system, metal detectors at certain locations and security guards/K9 program on campus.

Join the Geisinger Family! Apply now! To learn more about Geisinger opportunities, please contact Nikki Kaleta, nkaleta@geisinger.edu

Position Details

• Full Time, Day Shift Position (40 Hours/weekly)

• 7am - 3:30pm

• Every other weekend and holiday rotation required

Education

Bachelor's Degree-Related Field of Study (Required)

Skills

Communication; Patients Rights; Medical Records Management

About Geisinger

Founded more than 100 years ago by Abigail Geisinger, the system now includes ten hospital campuses, a 550,000-member health plan, two research centers and the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine. With nearly 24,000 employees and more than 1,700 employed physicians, Geisinger boosts its hometown economies in Pennsylvania by billions of dollars annually. Learn more at geisinger.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Geisinger values who you are, where you are from, and where you are going. We seek out people of various backgrounds and cultures with unique abilities, non-traditional career paths and ambitious aspirations. We are an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and Minorities are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability or their protected veteran status. Read more about Our Commitment to Inclusive Recruiting.

Our Vision & Values

Everything we do is about making better health easier for our patients, our members, our students, our Geisinger family and our communities.

KINDNESS: We strive to treat everyone as we would hope to be treated ourselves.

EXCELLENCE: We treasure colleagues who humbly strive for excellence.

LEARNING: We share our knowledge with the best and brightest to better prepare the caregivers for tomorrow.

INNOVATION: We constantly seek new and better ways to care for our patients, our members, our community, and the nation.

SAFETY: We provide a safe environment for our patients and members and the Geisinger family.

Our Benefits

We offer healthcare benefits for full time and part time positions from day one, including vision, dental and prescription coverage.