Behavioral Health Technician / CHR in Tucson, Arizona at Tucson Indian Center

Nature of Work:

Embraces and Embodies Tucson Indian Center’s (TIC) Identity Document’s Mission, Purpose and Vision Statements; Core Values; Guiding Principles and Strategic Goals. The incumbent is responsible for providing dedicated, culturally competent, self-motivated, and compassionate Behavioral Health Technician services to the TIC patients. This position requires maintaining active BHT certification in the State of Arizona and collaborating closely with our outpatient integrated treatment center team.

Assessment Services:

The Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) will serve as the primary person to provide patient assessments and assure behavioral health patient intakes are completed for the Behavioral Health Providers. The BHT ensures individuals are assessed in a timely and professional manner that meets quality standards for all entities that provide oversight and/or funding at TIC, including T/RBHA (as applicable) and licensing entities.

Case Management Services:

Serves as a member of a multi-disciplinary patient care team for TIC’S Behavioral Health Program. The BHT provides case management services that support the treatment goals of the patients care plan. The BHT represents the company professionally and positively to enhance and promote the core values and mission of TIC, always exercising utmost discretion, diplomacy and tact in customer transactions. The BHT reports directly to the Practice Manager.

CHR Services:

Provides Community Health Representative (CHR) services, especially in the area of behavioral health. CHR services include patient education, referrals, case management, and outreach.

Essential Functions:

Assessment Services:

1. Provides assessments of individuals who participate in the Behavioral Health treatment program, utilizing all required forms and assuring quality of care.

• Provides behavioral health assessments that meet AHCCCS and other insurance and regulating entities’ content and appointment time requirements.
• Follows DSM-V criteria in making preliminary diagnosis.
• Reviews intake information for completeness and follows-up on needed changes or additions.
• Consults with Behavioral Health Providers on referrals for patient needs to support assessment services, including but not limited to: Assistance with referrals to job search for patients; basic needs such as food and shelter; scheduling patient transportation for appointments, and appointment reminders and missed appointment follow-up.
• Collaborates with other TIC Providers and staff where there is an interchange of patients, to establish patterns of cooperative efforts and to facilitate patient care and follow-up.
• Provides patient services in an appropriate, efficient, expeditious, and professional manner.
• Provides for preventive behavioral health and health promotion and disease prevention education activities to individuals, groups and families.
• Provides excellent communication skills to patients, agency staff, and external personnel to meet departmental and service goals including answering program informational phone calls.
• Proactively seeks resolution to program/service challenges.

2. Provides accurate and timely documentation, billing, and program audit support.

• Documents all patient services using the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and maintains accurate and timely patient case records in accordance with state licensing, T/RBHA (as applicable), insurance, departmental directives, and agency billing/record-keeping requirements.
• Submits accurate encounters to billing within required timeframes.
• Provides support to Providers with completing closures and updating demographics, as required by insurance and/or T/RBHA (as applicable).
• Provides support with preparing charts for audits and surveys.

3. Actively participates in case staffing meetings and peer review sessions.

• Provides peer consultation in case staffing, assuring quality assurance, and as necessary reports to referring representatives on patient progress.
• Comes prepared for case staffing or peer review sessions.
• Utilizes case staffing to assure that patients receive services in an appropriate, efficient, expeditious, and professional manner.
• Completes case staffing documentation and files appropriately.
• Completes peer reviews, if requested by management.

4. Collaborates with the care team and other internal and external health care providers for shared patients to facilitate patient care and follow-up, while promoting the healthcare home mission in all aspects of service delivery.

• Ensure coordination of care takes place to include coordination and delivery of interpreter/translation services, to enhance patient care.
• Proactively seek resolution to program/service and personnel challenges using professionalism and integrity.
• Connects and refers patients to other TIC services and other external agencies as necessary, providing complete clinical information for care and diagnostic procedures, while adhering to HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 regulations, as well as agency policies, at all times.
• Actively promotes services to internal agency departments, city courts, probation officers, assessment agencies, and other potential referral sources. Reports monthly on these activities to direct supervisor.

5. Remains up-to-date on knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Participates in a variety of available trainings related to professional development, inclusive of those related to the health promotion and disease prevention of the persons served in the program.
• Remains current and completes on time, all assigned Relias and other assigned trainings, per management.

Case Management Services:

6. Provides non-intensive case management services in support of Behavioral Health patients and providers.

• Maintain patient tracking addressing: open/close dates; diagnosis codes; treatment plan; annual assessment; demographics; and health insurance coverage according to RBHA guidelines.
• Complete reminders to clinicians regarding upcoming expirations and monitor for compliance.
• Consult with Behavioral Health Providers on patient needs to assist with referrals to job search; basic needs such as food and shelter; and scheduling patient transportation for appointments. Promote and disseminate health promotion and disease prevention education.
• Complete appointment reminders and missed appointment follow-up.
• Document encounters on the Electronic Health Record meeting agency, state, and health plans standards.
• Submit accurate encounters to billing within required timeframes.

7. Supports the behavioral health program and its team members.

• Document outcome measures developed by behavioral health team.
• Support providers by completing patient closures and updating demographics.
• Prepare charts for audits and surveys. Assist with BHD medical records responsibilities.
• Assist with completing assessments, referrals, eligibility, and scheduling appointments.
• Collaborate with other TIC providers and staff to facilitate patient care and follow-up.

8. Participates in quality improvement and quality assurance activities for the department.

• Actively participates in peer reviews and case staffing sessions.
• Utilize case staffing to assure that patients receive services in an appropriate, efficient, expeditious, and professional manner.
• Complete case staffing documentation and files appropriately.
• Participates in the implementation of department corrective action plans.
• Participates in trainings related to professional development.
• Provides activities that support the provision of health promotion and disease prevention to the persons served in the program.

Community Health Representative Services

9. Community Health Representative (CHR) services, especially in the area of behavioral health. CHR services include patient education, referrals, case management, and outreach.

Other Duties:

10. Provides other duties as assigned and supports the organization as needed.

Required Experience and Training:

1. Bachelor’s degree in social work, Behavioral Health or Social Services-related fields strongly preferred (or experience equivalent).
2. Master’s Degree in related field is preferred.
3. Two years of related case management experience is required. Experience working with underserved and diverse populations is preferred. Two years of specialized experience working or related to the line of work of the position, which has provided the applicant with specific knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position.
4. Experience in providing DSM-V diagnosis in a patient care setting.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

All functions:

• Knowledge of the cultural, social, and economic backgrounds of the populations served and the ability to work with diverse populations.
• Courteous, honest, and professional at all times.
• Excellent communication skills and relates well with patients, providers, agency staff, and service contacts.

Assessment Services:

• Ability to accomplish the quality and quantity of work expected within set limits of cost and time.
• Knowledge of DSM-V diagnostic criteria.
• Ability to plan own work and carry out assignments effectively.
• Excellent computer skills with Microsoft Office, Outlook and quick to learn new systems/programs.
• Ability to provide electronic, written or oral reports and evaluations concerning program activities, accomplishments, goals, and objectives in a timely manner.
• Knowledge of existing social and behavioral health resources available for patient care.
• Must be able to work with confidential material without betraying the trust of patients, families, or the agency- in accordance with HIPAA and 42 CFR Part 2 regulations, as well as agency policies.
• Ability to assess quality of patient care and make improvements as needed.
• Knowledge of mental health and substance abuse issues of the populations served.

Case Management Services:

• Knowledge of case management practices.
• Foster a culturally appropriate, person-centered approach and maximize patient self-determination.
• Demonstrates respect for the patient’s preferences, interests, needs, culture, language, and belief system.
• Positive attitude and the ability to advocate on behalf of the patient’s needs.
• Knowledge of existing social and behavioral health resources for patient care.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and ability to establish rapport.
• Good documentation skills, including detailed and accurate documentation.
• Mental health/substance abuse terminology knowledge and understanding. Knowledge of mental health issues of the populations served.
• Ability to work independently with strong sense of focus, task-oriented, non-judgmental, and clear sense of boundaries.
• A strong sense of and respect for confidentiality.
• Courteous, honest and professional at all times.
• Customer service oriented.
• Ability to plan own work and carry out assignments effectively.
• Excellent computer skills with Microsoft Office and electronic health record.
• Remain current and complete on time, all assigned Relias trainings.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience working with underserved populations is strongly preferred.
• Bilingual in Spanish is preferred. Fluency evaluation is required if bilingual.

Additional Requirements:

• Must possess and maintain a current, valid, and unrestricted Arizona Driver’s License throughout employment. No DUI/DWI or reckless driving convictions within the past five (5) years. No more than two (2) at-fault accidents within the past three (3) years.
• Must be insurable by TIC’s liability auto policy.
• Must have an updated Immunization Record provided to Human Resources upon employment.
• Must have a current (within 12 months) Tuberculosis (TB) skin report upon employment.
• Must pass alcohol/substance abuse testing upon employment and submit to random testing during the course of employment.
• Must maintain current certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS), Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) throughout employment.
• Must present an Arizona DPS Class I Fingerprint Clearance Card prior to employment.
• Must obtain HIPAA certification within two (2) weeks of hire.

Working Conditions:

• Clinic setting: Exposure to communicable disease & bloodborne pathogens,.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit; balance; stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 30 pounds.

Supervisory Status:

Non-Supervisory; Reports to Medical Business Office Manager/Practice Manager.