The behavioral health care manager (BHCM) position is a behavioral health provider who operates in the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) as part of our integrated behavioral health teams. The behavioral health care manager is a core member of the CoCM team, including the patient’s medical provider (primary care provider, or referring specialty provider) and psychiatric consultant, traditional health care worker (THW) if available, as well as the larger clinic team to ensure continuity of care.

The BHCM is responsible for supporting and coordinating the mental and physical health care of CoCM patients on an assigned patient caseload with the patient’s primary care provider and the CoCM psychiatric consultant. When appropriate, the BHCM may also coordinate care with other internal and external mental health providers.

This position involves a high degree of clinical complexity and advanced level of skill in delivering evidence-based interventions targeted to improve wellbeing and health for a large variety of patients with emotional and behavioral concerns commonly seen in a primary care setting. The work includes screening and assessing patients for common mental health and substance use disorders, providing education about these conditions, discussing available treatment options, and facilitating patient engagement and follow-up care. The BHCM also is responsible for systematically tracking treatment, engagement, and response (via a registry) and for monitoring patients (either in person, by phone or virtual visit) for changes in clinical status and treatment side effects or complications. The BHCM supports the patient in their management of their psychotropic medication, focusing on treatment adherence monitoring, side effects and effectiveness of treatment. Additionally, the BHCM provides brief behavioral interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, problem-solving therapy, motivational interviewing, and other treatments as appropriate. The role also involves participation in regular (weekly) caseload consultation with the psychiatric consultant and communication of resulting treatment recommendations to the patient’s continuity medical provider.

The BHCM performs duties with minimal supervision. Work is reviewed for adherence to procedures, regulations, standards and for overall effectiveness. The BHCM position is expected to serve as an advocate for collaborative behavioral health within the physical health care setting.

Counseling:

• Provide brief behavioral interventions using evidence-based techniques such as behavioral activation, problem-solving treatment, motivational interviewing, or other treatments as appropriate.
• Support the patient in their psychotropic medication management as prescribed by medical providers, focusing on treatment adherence monitoring, side effects, and effectiveness of treatment.
• Provide or facilitate in-clinic or outside referrals to evidence-based psychosocial treatments (e.g., problem-solving treatment or behavioral activation) as clinically indicated.
• Support the mental and associated physical health care needs of patients on an assigned patient caseload. Closely coordinate care with the patient’s continuity medical provider and, when appropriate, other mental health providers.

Documentation:

• Document patient progress and treatment recommendations in the electronic health record (EHR) and other required systems to be shared with medical providers, psychiatric consultant, and other treating providers.
• Track patient follow up and clinical outcomes using a registry. Document in-person and telehealth encounters in the registry and use the system to identify and re-engage patients.

Psychosocial Assessment:

• Screening and assessment of patients for common mental health and substance use disorders. Facilitate patient engagement and follow-up care.

• Provide patient education about common mental health and substance abuse disorders and the available treatment options.

Patient Services

• Systematically track treatment response and monitor patients (in person or by telephone or virtual visit) for changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects or complications.
• Manage collaborative care registry.
• Facilitate referrals for clinically indicated services outside of the organization (e.g., social services such as housing assistance, vocational rehabilitation, mental health specialty care, substance abuse treatment).
• Facilitate treatment plan changes for patients who are not improving as expected in consultation with the medical provider and the psychiatric consultant and who may need more intensive or more specialized mental health care.
• Systematically track treatment response and monitor patients (in person or by telephone or virtual visit) for changes in clinical symptoms and treatment side effects or complications.

• A Master’s Social Work (MSW) required.  Health care experience preferred.
• Effective January 1, 2011, Certificate of Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA) or Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) required for employees who practice clinical social work.

Job Related Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Competencies):

• Health care experience
• Experience in behavioral health counseling and brief short-term therapy strategies and case management in an ambulatory setting.
• Experience and/or interest in Collaborative Care.
• Experience in a Primary Care Ambulatory Clinic setting.
• Experience with program development and evaluation.
• 3 years’ experience in similar position
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of behavioral health consultation, including assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, cognitive-behavioral counseling strategies and their application to population-based care for preventive and chronic care issues.
• Working knowledge of evidence-based psychosocial treatments and brief behavioral interventions for common mental health disorders, when appropriate (e.g., motivational interviewing, problem-solving treatment, behavioral activation).
• Comprehensive understanding of the interrelationship between medical and psychological systems and their impact on health.
• Experience in documenting clinical activities in a comprehensive, clear, concise fashion on a same day basis.
• Basic knowledge of psychopharmacology for common mental health disorders

Hours: Variable. Five 8-hour shifts, Monday-Friday, with possibility of evening or weekend hours. Flexing start/end times to accommodate clinical needs may provided, as well.

 

The work is performed in a medical setting and involves normal working hours with occasional alternative hours for special programs or outreach. The position involves interactions with people who have a wide variety of physical and behavioral health problems. Some travel may be required.

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.